PARIS, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Thursday denounced a suicide attack targeting paramilitary troopers belonging to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, reiterating France's support to India to combat terrorism.
"I utterly condemn the despicable attack that has just been targeted against India. I extend my condolences to the families of the soldiers who died and express my wholehearted solidarity with the Indian government and people," Le Drian said in a statement.
The French top diplomat said: "France has always stood and will continue to stand alongside India in the fight against terrorism in all its forms."
The death toll of the suicide attack has risen to 40, Indian officials said. Many others are reported to be wounded in the attack.
The car bomb attack was carried out at 3:15 p.m. local time on a national highway near Lethpora village in Pulwama district, about 27 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
Indian security analysts said the attack is the deadliest in the history of Kashmir militancy since 1989.
The Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying a fidayeen (suicide bomber) carried out a car bomb blast to target the convoy.
Le Drian called on "each state to take effective measures to combat the terrorist networks and their funding channels and to prevent the cross-border movement of terrorist groups such as Jaish-e-Muhammad".
Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.
