MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Moscow strongly condemns the militant attack in Indian-administered disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir that claimed lives of 17 soldiers, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
"We strongly condemn the terrorist attack on an Indian military base situated beside the town of Uri in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, which was carried out in the early hours of September 18. Seventeen servicemen were killed and 30 others were injured. We express deep condolences to the families and relatives of the people killed and wish a speedy recovery to the injured," the ministry's press service said in a statement.
The assault on the army brigade headquarters base near the disputed frontier was conducted by four gunmen at 5:30 a.m. local time (00:00 GMT) on Sunday. Following the incident, India accused Pakistan of supporting terrorism. Islamabad denied the allegations. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.
The region of Kashmir has been disputed by India and Pakistan since the dissolution of British India and the establishment of the two states in 1947. Some local residents, most of them Muslims, especially those residing in the Kashmir Valley, call for greater autonomy or even independence from India.
