On Thursday Feb 14, 2019, in a dastardly terrorist attack, 40 of our brave Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) soldiers were martyred and many others seriously injured. The attack which took place at Awantipora in Jammu & Kashmir’s Pulwama is the worst attack ever on Indian security personnel in the state, since the terror attack on Jammu & Kashmir State Legislative Assembly complex in Srinagar in 2001, which claimed lives of 38 people.
These soldiers were part of a large contingent of over 2500 CRPF men, moving in a convoy consisting of 70 vehicles. The convoy was on the Srinagar- Jammu highway, on its way to Pulwama, when the terrorist carried out this fidayeen (suicide) attack. The terrorists triggered the attack using a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VB-IED) As per the latest information on the manner the attack was carried out, a car loaded with 60 kilograms of RDX was detonated next to the ill fated bus (no SUV rammed into the bus, as was being suspected earlier). The explosion was so big, it had a blast radius of 150 metres. Bullet marks were also found on the bus which indicates that terrorists may have also fired on the convoy, from a hiding place, after the explosion.
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The terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammad has taken the responsibility of this attack. The suicide bomber has been identified as Adil Ahmad Dar, a.k.a. Waqas Commando, who was a school dropout and had joined the terror outfit a year back.
Who are Jaish-e-Mohammad?
Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) is a Pakistan based terrorist organization which was started by a cleric named Masood Azhar in the year 2000. JeM has carried out many terrorist attacks in India in the past including the 2001 attack on the Parliament in New Delhi, which almost brought India and Pakistan to brink of a war. Most recently the group was blamed for the Uri attack in 2016, where 17 army personnel lost their lives.
The United Nations has banned the JeM since 2002, and has designated it as a ‘terrorist organisation’. Masood Azhar is also designated as the ‘most wanted terrorist’ in India, however, he is still at large and is reportedly operates from Pakistan. He was arrested in Srinagar in 1999, but was released as part of the hostage exchange after flight IC 814 was hijacked.
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India has called for Masood Azhar to be listed as a Terrorist by the UN Security Council in the past, but it has been repeatedly blocked by China, an ally of Pakistan.

Adil Ahmad Dar, the prime accused in the Pulwama attack. India Today
India’s First Major Response Against Pakistan After The Pulwama Attack
In a first major step, Government of India has withdrawn the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status that it had granted to Pakistan in 1996, when India became a part of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and signed the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). However, in these 23 years, Pakistan has not granted India the MFN status.
MFN essentially ensured that India did not put any discriminatory duties on products being imported from Pakistan, as compared to products being imported from any other nation which is a WTO member.
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Other Possible Actions Which India Can Contemplate
The Government seems to be taking a very hard stance to deal with Pakistan in the days to come. Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by the Prime Minister along with the Home Minister, Defence Minister, External Affairs Minister and the Finance Minister takes decision on matters related to security and strategic affairs. The steps could possible range from unilaterally withdrawing the Indus Water Treaty, to severing all diplomatic ties with Pakistan.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that India would take all possible diplomatic steps to ‘completely isolate’ Pakistan in the International Community. Indian envoys have started meeting the members of the P5 (also known as Big 5) of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to build up the pressure against Pakistan. United States, United Kingdom, Russia, France and China are the five permanent members of the UNSC.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated that the Armed Forces have been given total freedom to avenge this attack and those behind it would be made to pay a heavy price for the same. Rahul Gandhi and leaders across all parties have united and have come out in support of the government.
Condemnation of the attack by World Leaders
Leaders all around the world have strongly condemned the terror attack and are standing with India in the hour of grief. USA, Russia, France, China, Spain and many other countries have denounced this inhuman act and extended condolences to the bereaved families.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel
To my dear friend, Prime Minister of India @narendramodi, we stand with you, the security forces and the people of India following this heinous terrorist attack. We send our condolences to the families of the victims.
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) February 15, 2019
Vladimir Putin, President of Russia
President Vladimir #Putin sent condolences to @rashtrapatibhvn & @narendramodi on the terrorist attack in Jammu&Kashmir: “Please accept the most sincere condolences in connection with the loss of Indian law enforcement officers in the terrorist act in the state of Jammu& Kashmir pic.twitter.com/Z7ohapWC8N
— Russia in India (@RusEmbIndia) February 15, 2019
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USA
Statement from @WhiteHouse @PressSec on the #KashmirTerrorAttack pic.twitter.com/yiRSnEXfm8
— U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) February 15, 2019
Complete list of martyred CRPF jawans in Pulwama terror attack
Today, entire India is united in a state of grief and anger and paying their homage to the slain soldiers. Our heart goes out to the families of these departed souls and our prayers are with them. Let all of us stand together as a Nation and strengthen our resolve to fight and end terrorism – once and for all.
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