Muslim Extremists Attack Bus and Army Base in Kashmir, India - 2002-05-14

In an attack by Muslim extremists on a bus and an army base in Kashmir, India, at least 34 people were killed. According to official sources, the attackers were three armed men dressed in military uniforms who boarded a bus in a town near the Pakistan border and disembarked at the Kaluchak military camp, opening fire indiscriminately. After killing a sentry, they entered the military camp and began shooting at the families of soldiers before being neutralized by the troops. The attack occurred ten kilometers south of Jammu, the winter capital of Kashmir, and no one has yet claimed responsibility. A senior Indian army official in the region reported that the attackers were members of the 'Jaish-e-Mohammed' group, which is based in Pakistan. However, Pakistan has denied any involvement in the attack. The recent violence comes as Christina Rocca, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, is in New Delhi to discuss ways to reduce tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly over Kashmir. Ms. Rocca, who is scheduled to visit Pakistan tomorrow, condemned the attack in Kashmir as a barbaric act.