S.S. Parthasarathi

In a written statement to the Lok Sabha on 30 July 2024, the ministry of home affairs (MHA) stated that during the year, up to July 21, there have been 11 terror-related incidents and 24 encounters or counter terror operations in which 28 people lost their lives. Out of these, 14 were civilians and 14 were from the security forces (SF), mostly the Indian Army. In 2023, there were 46 terror-initiated incidents and 48 encounters, in which 44 people were killed, 30 of whom were SF personnels and 14 civilians. While giving the comparative figures, the ministry mentioned that there was a gradual decline in the number of killings and terror-initiated incidents, especially in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K); the ministry attributed this decline to the government policy of ‘zero tolerance’.

CRPF troopers patrolling in Kashmir

It is a fact that there is a gradual decline of terrorism in the Kashmir Valley, but there has been an unprecedented and unexpected spike in the terror attacks in Jammu division especially in Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi, Jammu, Kathua, Doda, Kishtwar and Udhampur districts. Since October 2021, there have been about 12 incidents of ambush on the SFs (including the army), most of which remained concentrated in Jammu division. In these attacks more than 40 army personnel have laid down their lives. Two CRPF personnels have also laid down their lives in the last couple of months—one in Kathua and another in Udhampur. Attacks on Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) and Village Defence Committee (VDC) members have also been reported from the same regions.

These attacks suggest that the terrorists are highly trained and motivated. The kind of training and tactics which they demonstrate can only be imparted by a military force or its associated arms. Perhaps, they are operating in close coordination with the Pakistan Army and the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). Recent recoveries from the operations also indicate that unlike the past now they are equipped with sophisticated weaponry and military gadgets such as M4 rifles, GPS, advanced night vision devices, magnetic IEDs, etc. Most of these attacks were claimed by a banned terror organization, Peoples’ Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), which is an offshoot or proxy of Jaish e Mohammed (JeM).

The frequency of attacks indicates that in this region nothing concrete can be done to permanently fill the gaps or the fault lines in the security grid. Terrorists are resorting to attacks at different locations of this region at frequent intervals, primarily targeting Indian Army troops for two reasons. One, the large presence of the Army makes them vulnerable to attacks; and these attacks give them the required milage and publicity. It seems that the ISI and the terror handlers across the LoC (line of control) have decided to diversify their attacks a