Timed Explosion In Kashmir Kills 10

First came a grenade, going off near a bank and luring police and journalists to inspect the damage. Then, 15 minutes later, a car bomb exploded within feet of the crowd, killing at least 10 people Thursday in Kashmir’s summer capital of Srinagar.

The militant group Hizbul Mujahedeen claimed responsibility for the brutally choreographed incident. It was their first major strike since calling off a cease-fire two days ago.

Hopes for peace in Kashmir passed quickly, and now that disputed territory seems back to the bloody attacks and counterattacks that have taken 25,000 to 40,000 lives since 1989.

Among the dead were eight police officers and a photographer, Pradeep Bhatia, who worked for the Indian daily The Hindustan Times.

Salim Hashmi, a spokesman for Hizbul Mujahedeen in Islamabad, said the attack was an act of frustration, caused by India’s unwillingness to meet his group’s main condition for peace talks: that Pakistan be included at the table.