Indian reports allege that the three men killed were part of the group responsible for the April 22 Pahalgam bombing. The incident, one of the deadliest in recent years, led to the use of fighter jets, drones, and missiles during a brief but intense military conflict between India and Pakistan. Though Pakistan denied involvement, New Delhi accused Pakistani nationals of executing the attack.

While Pakistan thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for brokering the ceasefire, India strongly denied U.S. mediation. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh stated in parliament that the ceasefire decision was independently made after India had achieved all its strategic objectives, calling suggestions of external pressure “entirely incorrect.”

The United States has designated The Resistance Front (TRF), accused of orchestrating the Pahalgam attack, as a “foreign terrorist organisation.” Indian opposition parties have criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handling of the intelligence failure and raised concerns about the military’s inability to capture the attackers.

Kashmir Security Context And Ongoing Tensions

The recent firefight comes amid a gradual decline in armed confrontations in Kashmir over the past five years. Still, Indian officials have reported an uptick in rebel casualties since the April attack. Monday’s clash occurred near the highly sensitive area surrounding the Amarnath shrine, a historic flashpoint during times of unrest.

The Indian army did not immediately identify the three individuals killed, but an anonymous police source told AFP that the deceased were all “foreigners.” No group has claimed responsibility.

Since 1989, various armed groups in Kashmir have demanded either independence or merger with Pakistan. India accuses Pakistan of supporting the insurgency, a claim Islamabad denies, asserting it provides only diplomatic backing for Kashmiri self-determination.