Seventeen militants and eight soldiers were killed in a five-day long encounter between the militants and the security forces in the Kupwara area of Jammu and Kashmir which ended on March 24. The equipment seized from the militants suggested that Pakistani security forces had assisted them in their infiltration attempts. At least 23 AK assault rifles, one pistol, four Under Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGLs), 19 UBGL grenades, two hand grenades, two global positioning systems and 10 radio sets were recovered. The LeT claimed responsibility for the Kupwara siege and threatened to intensify attacks across the Kashmir valley.

The Army on its part stated that there were around “300-400 terrorists in the Kashmir valley and 700-800 in Jammu and Kashmir” and that more terrorists were waiting to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir1. The Kupwara attack was the first major militant attack of LeT in Kashmir after the group was blamed for the deadly attacks in Mumbai in November 2008.

The Obama administration has meanwhile categorically ruled out involving itself in the Kashmir issue but expressed desire to help India and Pakistan build more trust and confidence. US NSA Gen. James Jones told foreign correspondents at a briefing in Washington on March 26 that "Kashmir is a separate issue," and that the US does not "intend to get involved in that (Kashmir) issue.” Earlier, President Obama, unveiling his new AfPak strategy, favoured using constructive diplomacy with India and Pakistan “to lessen tensions between two nuclear-armed nations that too often teeter on the edge of escalation and confrontation2.”

• 1. “Kupwara operation: Militants were from Lashkar-e-Toiba,” Daily Excelsior, March 25, 2009, at http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/09mar25/newsupdate.htm#3
• 2. “Obama Administration says no to Kashmir,” Daily Excelsior, March 27, 2009, at http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/09mar28/newsupdate.htm#1