Pakistan has changed its strategy of fuelling terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir by pushing in more Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) ultras instead of Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT) ranks to avoid international criticism. Though a much bigger group, LeT, of late, is facing pressure from the global community for aiding and abetting terrorism in Kashmir.

Faced with this situation, the security establishment is bracing for attacks on its installations and personnel by JeM whose fighters are well trained, “fierce,” motivated and have better weapons compared to others. Most of the terrorists of this group operating in Kashmir are foreigners and the Army assessment says they will fan out in newer areas not in the grip of militancy so far, including Warwan forest region, Pahalgam, higher reaches of Budgam and Khrew valley. Khrew valley has many cement factories and kilns and is a major source of revenue generation for the Government.

Known for carrying out fidayeen (suicide) assaults on Army camps like the one in Sunjwan in Jammu last month and a BSF establishment in the Kashmir earlier, the JeM generally depends on foreign fighters for such frontal attacks. However, the coming days will see the group trying to recruit local Kashmiri young men as the JeM is a small unit as compared to the LeT which has more foreign and local recruits. While the LeT reportedly has more than 150-odd fighters inside the Valley, the total strength of JeM is not more than 50, officials said here on Saturday.

Not withstanding this so-called disadvantage, the JeM has among its ranks “determined” fighters not afraid to take risks and this is a cause of worry for security forces. Elaborating upon this aspect, sources admitted the JeM terrorists are “dangerous” and will go all out to target camps and convoys of security forces.

As regards the LeT, they said of late this Pakistan-based organisation like the JeM, has stopped claiming responsibility of terror incidents in the Valley to escape international scrutiny. Moreover, their top leadership was neutralised due to sustained operations by the security forces in the last one year forcing the ISI and Pakistan Army to allow the Let to regroup over the next few months, sources said.

Apprehending a “hot” summer, they said more than 300 ultras are now inside the Valley including the JeM, LeT and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) will make a desperate effort to step up levels of violence. Another worrying fact is the recruitment of more than 150-odd locals thereby giving the terrorist organisations the capability to expand their area of operations in newer areas which over the years had not seen any terror activity.

Officials have not ruled out terrorist-related violence witnessing a quantum jump in the coming weeks given the presence of such a large number of fighters amongst their ranks. Coupled with this fact, they admitted that many ultras may have infiltrated from across the Line of Control (LoC) in January and February due to less snow. Heavy snow blocks all the ingress routes during winter months but this did not happen this year and the security establishment is yet to ascertain the number of terrorists who may have sneaked into the Kashmir Valley. Intelligence reports indicate that more than 400 ultras are now lodged in the launch pads all across the LoC waiting to infiltrate.

Courtesy: The Pioneer, Sunday, 18 March 2018 | Rahul Dutta | New Delhi