Remembering Pulwama Attack: What happened on February 14, 2019

Pulwama attack. File Pic

February 14, marks the anniversary of one of the deadliest terror attacks carried out on India security forces- the terror attack by a suicide bomber in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir.

In the terror attck, 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel had lost their lives. In a sad reflection on one of the darkest chapters in recent history. The attack was a devastating occurrence that shook the country to its core. On February 14, 2019, a convoy of Indian paramilitary men was targeted in a suicide bombing in Pulwama, killing 40 courageous soldiers.

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The attack occurred on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, when an explosive-laden vehicle crashed into a convoy of Central Reserve Police Force officials. The explosive-laden truck, driven by a member of the Pakistani extremist group Jaish-e-Mohammed, detonated a tremendous explosion, leaving havoc in its wake.

The suicide bomber attacked a convoy which included 78 buses, in which around 2,500 paramilitary personnel were travelling. The attack took place on Jammu-Kashmir National Highway (NH) 44 at around 3:15 pm. The attack was the deadliest terror attack on India's security personnel in Kashmir since 1989.

The Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a Pakistan-based Islamist terrorist group soon released a video and claimed the responsibility for the attack. The suicide bomber was later identified as 22-year-old, Adil Ahmad Dar, reportedly a resident of the Pulwama district.

The martyrdom of 40 people and the injuries sustained by many more sent shockwaves throughout the country, eliciting indignation and condemnation from both India and the world community. The Pulwama incident was a significant escalation in long-standing tensions between India and Pakistan, resulting in increased hostility in the region.

Following the attack, India took swift action to counter the threat posed by terrorist groups operating from across the border. India initiated a diplomatic assault to isolate Pakistan on a worldwide scale. The world community denounced the attack and encouraged both countries to use prudence to avoid future escalation.

The Indian Armed Forces responded with the Balakot airstrike on February 26, 2019, which targeted terrorist training centers. The airstrike had initially exacerbated tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations.