An Indian army artillery gun is fired in the Dras sector Friday, June 4, 1999. The Indian army is fighting Islamic militants who have occupied Indian territories along the line of control that India shares with Pakistan. Of all the world's battlefields, none is more arduous or expensive to defend than the Himalayas. India, with the world's third largest army, finds itself already stretched to the painful limits - and it will only get worse.
Artillery is hauled along the main road through Dras, India Friday, June 4, 1999. Indian air and ground offensives intensified against guerrillas in the Himalayan region of Kashmir on Friday, with little hope for diplomatic efforts by Pakistan to defuse the hostilities. For the 10th straight day, Indian jets struck the mountain positions seized by the Islamic guerrillas, who New Delhi claims are backed by Pakistan in their incursion across the cease-fire line dividing Kashmir. Pakistan denies the accusations. Dras, once a bustling community of nearly 10,000 people near the line of control, is practically deserted.
Residents of Dras, India pray in a nearly deserted mosque Friday June 4, 1999. The Indian army is fighting Islamic militants who have occupied Indian territory along the line of control in Kashmir that India shares with Pakistan. Dras, once a bustling of community of nearly 10,000 people near the line of control, now has far less residents.
A shell hits above the abandoned Indian army post near Dras Friday June 4, 1999. The Indian army is fighting Islamic militants who have occupied Indian territory along the line of control in Kashmir that India shares with Pakistan .
Chanting anti-Indian slogans and condemning shelling from Indian posts on their villages, Kashmiri students march in a rally in Muzzaffarabad, in Pakistan-held Kashmir Friday, June 4, 1999. Indian air and ground offensives intensified against guerrillas in the Himalayan region of Kashmir on Friday, with little hope for diplomatic efforts by Pakistan to defuse the hostilities. For the 10th straight day, Indian jets struck the mountain positions seized by the Islamic guerrillas, who New Delhi claims are backed by Pakistan in their incursion across the cease-fire line dividing Kashmir. Pakistan denies the accusations.
Soldiers wait in the Dras sector for deployment Friday, June 4, 1999. Indian air and ground offensives intensified against guerrillas in the Himalayan region of Kashmir on Friday, with little hope for diplomatic efforts by Pakistan to defuse the hostilities. For the 10th straight day, Indian jets struck the mountain positions seized by the Islamic guerrillas, who New Delhi claims are backed by Pakistan in their incursion across the cease-fire line dividing Kashmir. Pakistan denies the accusations.
Residents of Dras walk down a road Friday June 4, 1999 as they flee from an area where heavy shelling has taken place in the last few days. The Indian army is fighting Islamic militants who have occupied Indian territories along the line of control that India shares with Pakistan. Dras, once a bustling of community of nearly 10,000 people, now has far fewer residents.
