The Indian army has begun equipping its personnel with the newly designed "Asmi" machine pistol, significantly raising concerns about the safety of the region's population in a disturbing escalation of violence against civilians in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The "Asmi" is a hybrid weapon, functioning both as a pistol and a sub-machine gun, designed with the collaboration of India's Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
According to Kashmir Media Service, the weapon is specifically intended for use in house raids and other military operations, exacerbating fears of further rights abuses in the region. As the Indian military continues its oppressive actions, calls from civil society for a ban on the weapon have grown louder, citing the risks it poses to the already vulnerable population.
The introduction of the "Asmi" comes amid a broader political context in which tensions over Kashmir's status continue to simmer. In a significant political development, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly has passed a resolution calling for the restoration of Article 370, which granted the region special autonomy. The resolution demands the revival of the constitutional provisions that had provided Jammu and Kashmir with a degree of self-rule before the Indian government revoked it on August 5, 2019. Despite strong opposition from BJP members, the resolution was supported by a majority of lawmakers, with National Conference leader and Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Singh Choudhary, presenting the motion.
