Indian security forces have decoded the strategy of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and heads of terrorist groups to carry weapons and messages to women and teenagers in Jammu and Kashmir, a top Army official said in an interview.
General Officer Commanding of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps, also known as Chinar Corps, Lt Gen Amardeep Singh Aujla said the Army has observed a decline in the use of traditional means of communication by terrorists in the Kashmir Valley.
He stressed that the forces need to remain alert as people sitting across the Line of Control (LoC) are busy planning to vitiate the prevailing peaceful atmosphere.
“Today’s threat, as I see it, involves women, girls and teenagers carrying messages, drugs or sometimes weapons. So far, the Army has detected a few cases that indicate an emerging exposes the trend which in itself is a dangerous move by Pakistan.” The chiefs of ISI and ‘Tanjim’ (terrorist groups) have adopted it. We are working on it jointly with other agencies.
When asked if this means that terrorist groups have stopped using mobile communication, the army officer said that the signature of Tekint (technical intelligence) has reduced significantly. Also, several over ground workers (OGWs) who acted as carriers for them have been picked up.
“Therefore, now women, girls and teenagers are mainly inducted as substitutes for carrying messages,” said the top military official in the Valley.
As part of the de-radicalisation strategy, the Army has taken several initiatives in collaboration with the Union Territory Administration – one of which is the ‘Sahi Raasta’ program which has proved to be a game changer in recent times. Changer in true earnest.
“We have come a long way in ensuring peace and stability in Kashmir, but I am naïve to claim early victory as we feel that every gain must be made before we achieve lasting peace in the Union Territory,” he said. needs to be strengthened.”
Without naming Pakistan, Lt Gen Aujla said that the challenge is that the neighboring country has not given up its intention and is repeatedly creating trouble on both sides of the Pir Panjal. The recent infiltration attempt in Machil sector of North Kashmir is a testimony to its strong involvement.
He stressed that all security agencies, including the Union Territory Administration, are well prepared to thwart any nefarious designs of the adversary.
“Kashmir has seen some decline in the trend of infiltration along the Line of Control, but there have been some attempts south of Pir Panjal as well as in neighboring Punjab.
“We need to be vigilant and not let down our security at any cost. National security is our prime responsibility. We will leave no stone unturned to maintain it,” he said.
“We are aware of the potential threats from across and accordingly ensure to the best of our abilities that the present peace and normalcy achieved through collective efforts is not put at risk by hostile elements,” he added.
He said mounting pressure and actionable intelligence-based operations have kept the terrorists on their toes and most of them have either “moved out of the Valley or are lying dormant”.
“The invisible form of terrorism is a cause of concern and we are jointly working towards eliminating this phenomenon,” the official said.
“It is difficult to pin down the exact number of terrorists, local or foreign, but according to my estimates, it is certainly the lowest in the last 33 years,” the official said.
He said that Kashmir has witnessed a decline in terrorist attacks and encounters between terrorists and security forces this year which reflects a positive sign and augurs well towards peace and normalcy in all areas and regions.
The official said that there has been a visible change in the sentiments of the local population towards violence which is highly commendable and “the challenge for us is to maintain this in the times to come”.
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He said that the need of the hour was to strengthen public confidence in the security forces and the concerned government machinery.
“Ultimately, if we have reached this stage, it is thanks to the cooperation of the people,” Lt Gen Aujla said.
Based on the changing security environment, “we have also modified our methodology to make operations more people-friendly,” the official said.
“I am optimistic that collectively we will be able to usher in a new normal of peace in Kashmir in the coming days,” he said.
Lt Gen Aujla appreciated the coordination between all security forces in ensuring incident-free G-20 meeting held in the Valley recently.
(With PTI inputs)
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