In the recent past resurgence of terrorist attacks have occurred in the Jammu region. After taking over by the new Govt. at the Centre on 9th June 2024, the terrorist attacks on Security forces and innocent civilians in the Jammu region have increased.
About this Episode
Further after abrogation of Article 370, the TRF (Terrorist Resistance Force) in the valley has targeted Security Forces and BJP politicians. TRF portrays itself as Kashmiri Resistance Force, fighting for freedom of J & K from India. However, TRF has support from well-known terrorist groups like Hezbollah Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba, etc.
In this Podcast, NISSMAT experts discuss the recent resurgence of terrorist activities in various areas of Jammu and also the activities of TRF in the valley.
What this session covered
Recorded in the wake of a series of attacks in June 2024, this session took the form of a discussion between the institute's host and a single guest, an Army General associated with the institute who has long experience of counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir. It examined the apparent shift of terrorist activity from the Kashmir Valley towards the Jammu region, opening with the 9 June attack on a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims in the Reasi area, in which the vehicle went into a gorge and a number of pilgrims died. Police reporting was cited to the effect that about 60 to 70 per cent of militants formerly active in the Jammu region had become active again, and the discussion noted the arrest of a local man said to have guided the attackers to the ambush site.
The guest attributed the shift to conditions in the Valley — an effective surveillance grid along the Line of Control, lengthened and difficult infiltration routes, and the dismantling of overground and underground support networks — combined with the terrain and demography of the Jammu division, where the border lies close to the areas of operation, vegetation is thick and logistic support is easier to find. He described tunnel construction near the international border in the Samba belt, the use of drones to fly in weapons and narcotics, and an intelligence report that militants operating in one border sector included former special forces personnel of the Pakistan Army. Remedies discussed included a tiered deployment in depth to deny militants rest and logistic support, a clearance operation on the model of an earlier major operation in the region in which terrorist camps and hideouts had been cleared, stronger human and technical intelligence, synergy among the security forces, control of finances and supplies, and protection of minority communities.
The discussion then turned to the Valley and the organisation known as the TRF, founded in October 2019 after the abrogation of Article 370 and banned by the Government of India in January 2023 under unlawful-activities legislation. The host described how the group presents itself as an indigenous, secular resistance movement while the Indian government has accused it of being a front for a Pakistan-based terrorist organisation. The group's claim that an attack on a security officer was revenge for a commander killed in Pakistan-administered territory was cited as showing links with terrorist organisations outside Kashmir, while attacks on the residence of a political party's local vice president and on another leader of the same party, in which security personnel were killed, were cited as evidence that the group had become resurgent in the Valley; the guest added that it had also been targeting soft targets, including migrant labourers. The session closed on security for the Amarnath Yatra, with around 4,000 pilgrims stated to be moving in the first batch, and on the expectation that militants would attempt disruption ahead of assembly elections anticipated in September — both speakers cautioning against complacency, with the Valley described by the guest as broadly under control but the Jammu division as requiring closer surveillance.
Key points raised
- The discussion traced a partial shift of terrorist activity from the Kashmir Valley to the Jammu region, linked to tighter surveillance along the Line of Control and the dismantling of militant support networks in the Valley.
- The 9 June attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in the Reasi area was examined as the most serious recent incident; a local man was reported to have been arrested for guiding the attackers to the ambush site.
- The guest cited an intelligence report that militants operating in one border sector included former Pakistan Army special forces personnel, and argued for a clearance operation modelled on an earlier major operation in the region.
- Countermeasures discussed included tiered deployment in depth, stronger human and technical intelligence, synergy among security forces, control of finances and supplies, and protection of minority communities.
- The TRF, banned in January 2023, was discussed as portraying itself as an indigenous movement while its revenge claims for a commander killed across the border were said to indicate links to organisations outside Kashmir.
- The session closed with a caution against complacency ahead of the Amarnath Yatra and assembly elections anticipated in September, with the Jammu region described as requiring closer surveillance.
Session transcript
This transcript is auto-generated from the session recording and lightly edited for punctuation and readability; it may contain transcription errors. The video remains the authoritative record.
Read the full transcript
Good morning, good evening, good afternoon. I am C Paul Singh, President of NISSMAT, National Institute of Security, Safety, Management and Applied Technology at Delhi. I have with me today General Deepak, General Deepak Mehra, who is a moderator of NISSMAT and an expert on insurgency. Today we are going to discuss on the recent resurgence of terrorist activities in Jammu region as well as in the Kashmir Valley. The incidents have taken place in the month of June and a little earlier, which indicate that the pattern of the terrorism is being fluctuated or changed by some, by the advice of some intelligence groups, so as to confuse the security forces on this side, that is the Indian side.
As we all know that in the month of June terror attacks have occurred in Jammu, and this highlights the shift of terrorists from Kashmir Valley to Jammu region. The shift is not total, but the shift is there. Again, the day the new government at the centre took the oath, the attacks and targeting security forces and innocent civilians have increased. It is reported by the local police authorities that about 60 to 70% of terrorists who were earlier operating in Jammu region years back, out of them about 60 to 70% of them have again become active. This highlights the shift to Jammu region.
On 9th June, this last month, the terrorists, helped by a Lashkar-e-Taiba module, carried out a terrorist attack on a bus which was taking Hindu pilgrims from Shiv Khori to Mata Vaishno Devi. This resulted in the bus veering into a deep valley in Reasi district, resulting in death of a number of pilgrims. It is believed that further escalation of terrorism is also likely to take place in this region.
After abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, the terrorists seem to have shifted their bases from Kashmir Valley to Jammu to some extent. Huge number of security forces have been deployed in Kashmir Valley after abrogation of Article 370. These forces are there to maintain a grip over the terrorist attacks in the valley. Thus there seems to be a search, and there seems to be an idea on the part of the terrorists that let us change to Jammu region and have some resurgence of activities in Jammu region.
The terrorist attacks also seem to be a move to deter holding of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, which are proposed to be held shortly after the abrogation of Article 370. The first time the assembly elections are being held after the abrogation, so that also is one of the ideas: that you should attack, you should create activity, you should become resurgent, you should shift your bases, you adopt new tactics so as to create problems for the security forces and the administration of India.
I'll now request General Deepak, who has worked for a long time in Jammu region on anti-terrorist activities. He may explain to us as to how the complex terrain across the international border and LoC is creating problems for the security forces due to resurgence of terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir, Jammu region. General Deepak, please.
Thank you, sir. So before I explain the terrain in the Jammu division, I want to just highlight a few points with regards to why has the focus shifted from the Kashmir Valley to the Jammu division. You very correctly brought out there Article 370, maybe one of the catalysts for it. But as far as the military aspect is concerned, we have a reasonably cogent surveillance system along the Line of Control. The routes of infiltration by the terrorists from across, from the west, have become very difficult and very long. The security forces operating in the J&K valley, they have by and large annulled the activities of the underground and overground workers who were supporting the terrorists there. As a result, these terrorists had no place to hide.
If you see the latest operations which have taken place lately, wherever these fellows are, basically in the wilderness, they're in the orchards. When they come into the built-up area, information reaches because the intelligence is quite active. The operations are launched and these terrorists are liquidated. As a result, because of the problems of the insurgency in the valley, these people have shifted onto the Jammu division.
Jammu division: firstly, the Line of Control is very close to the area of operation. The area north of Poonch, between Poonch and Gulmarg in the valley, has very sparse population; I'd rather there is no population per se. The terrorists have no logistic support. Then they have to climb up to Pir Panjal, the Jamia Gali and Chor Gali, to come into Tosa Maidan and then get into the valley. Secondly, the vegetation is very thick in this area. Now as far as the population is concerned, the Poonch area in particular has a very large population of Sikhs and Hindus. The Muslims per se are only along the Line of Control, coming down to Rajouri sector. Rajouri sector has a population — when I talk Rajouri sector, it is further south of Kalakote and that area — it has a population of 50% Hindus and 50% Muslims. Elaborate on the background of other places like Bhaderwah, Kathua, coming from north to south.
Now coming down to the Jammu division, Jammu division has got two major rivers, the Tawi river and the Nikki Tawi. Those are very difficult to cross by anyone coming from the west. Then just south of Nikki Tawi, that is south of Jammu, because of the high water level on the ground, there is very thick growth of sarkanda. It gives them cover, but when the sarkanda moves, the people deployed on the border get to know they're coming. Coming further south, the Arnia, Samba area, they have started constructing tunnels, because once they have come into our area through the tunnels, the road Pathankot–Jammu is the closest to them. So there the BSF is doing a wonderful job; they have been able to catch hold of a large number of tunnels which had been constructed. So infiltration there has also been stopped to quite an extent.
Coming down to Kishtwar, Basohli, Bhaderwah area, the population there is about 50% Hindu — mostly more than 50% Hindus — with a very small sprinkling of Muslims. It was an active area till about mid-90s. Then the Village Defence Force came into being, where weapons were given to the villagers as a defence force of the villages, and insurgency stopped in that area. But now last week there has been a certain one-out incident where the terrorists have attacked a security post at Doda. So by and large, by virtue of the fact that the IB and the Line of Control is closest in the Jammu division, that is the area of Rajouri, Reasi, that is why it is simpler for them to infiltrate. They get the logistic support, and that is how these areas — it is shifting from the valley into this area, sir.
Now I'd like to ask one more question here. I intercept you that the Defence Force in any terrorist activities is of great help to the security forces, but as you know very well, their training is not normally up to that mark as to control the terrorism. I mean they have a resistance and they help the security forces, and as you say, after the 90s the area was very active and you had done all control measures. What, these Village Defence Forces or organisation — demolished, finished, or they continued? B, the likely onset of monsoon. You referred to a huge amount of sarkanda in that area and the likelihood of their hiding places. The likely onset of monsoon season now may worsen the situation, as heavy infiltration of terrorists could take place during this season. Would you like to elaborate and then tell us the control measures which we should take?
Correct, sir, absolutely right. Now further, it's been further exaggerated by the use of drones. Like what is happening in Punjab, the drones are being flown in with weapons, ammunition and narcotics. Similar things are happening in the Jammu division, the south of that, that is the area of Samba, Arnia and further south. These are happening along the international border. So they will only come in where they have the logistic support. For example, this incident you mentioned about the terrorists targeting a bus of religious people who were going to Mata Vaishno Devi: the police has acted very fast. They arrested one chap, Hakam Din, from Rajouri, is 45 years of age, who has been providing logistic support to the terrorists in the past also. He is the man who guided this terrorist group to the ambush site where the bus was ambushed, and he has admitted the fact that he helped them get out of that ambush site also. So I think things are moving in the right direction, sir.
Sir, will you like to also elaborate a little bit, or tell us a little bit, that one of the top terrorists known as Saifullah, who was designated as wing commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, was operating in Kishtwar some time back. He is known for his deceptive tactics, and he has successfully avoided capture by staying in and around minority houses of Hindus. This very deceptive tactic he is using, and all this, plus the growing and plus other weaknesses of the — I mean, not being well trained — and the Village Defence Forces. What are your views as to how we should be able to totally control this region, particularly, with you referring, that is the Jammu region I am saying?
Sir, firstly, sir, if you take your mind back, in the mid-90s there was a very major operation launched known as Sarp Vinash. Sarp Vinash was north of Rajouri. You know there's a place Bufliaz; there's a track road, four track, which goes from Bufliaz into the Shopian valley. This is the old Mughal road. Because of the high degree of vegetation there, there was a large number of terrorists which were holed up there. They had the camps, they had their hideouts. So the Sarp Vinash was launched and all these terrorists and the hideouts were liquidated. A similar action is also required, I feel, now in this area of Rajouri, because there is one report to say that about 60 to 70 terrorists from across the border were operating in Rajouri sector, and this intelligence report says they are all ex-army chaps of the Pakistan SSG.
Oh, I see.
So we have to increase our own deployment in this area, have a tiered deployment: the front deployment along the Line of Control and the deployment in depth. Keep the terrorists on the run so they do not find a place to rest, they do not find logistic support, they cannot find the hideout. And I feel there, like what has happened in Sarp Vinash, another operation to be launched in that area to clear out this area once and for all. We need to have a very cogent intelligence setup, intelligence both human backed by technical support. Apparently I feel that over a period of time the intelligence was not as what it used to be earlier. They have to build up that synergy between all the forces which are operating in that area, sir, be it the Rashtriya Rifles, the troops deployed in depth, the police, the CRPF, and anyone for that matter — all aspects of the security forces. And they have to be very — then resource control is again a very important thing, I feel. Resource control in terms of supplies. Resource control in terms of, for example, a family of six cannot buy one ton of grain. Where is that thing going? It is going somewhere out. So resource control into the finances, supplies, weapons and ammunition has to be kept in view.
Now in addition to that, probably, I mean, you have to see that you have indicated the synergy of various security forces operating in this area. Besides, requirement is support in control in terms of finances. As you say, which are being given to them, that finances should be controlled. Next is also that supplies of arms and ammunition to them should be stopped somehow, and build on human intelligence somehow, so that the minority population does not fall victim to these terrorists in Jammu area. Anything you want to go further on this Jammu area? Then I'll move on further.
I agree with you, sir. Again, one more factor which comes into being is protection of the minority community.
I'll go further than that. And now in the valley — I'm talking, we have talked about the resurgence of terrorists in the Jammu region — I'll now talk about the valley. Sir, you know that a lot of operations have been undertaken — operation, I would not say, terrorist activities have been undertaken — by The Resistance Front, TRF. It is a separatist militant organisation which is involved in the ongoing insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir. This organisation has positioned itself as a sort of local organisation fighting against the Indian government for Kashmiri freedom, and in the context of past Kashmir insurgency it has been shown or indicated as a non-Islamist but the local organisation. Actually it is a camouflage. The Indian government has accused The Resistance Front of being an offshoot of Pakistani-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, a claim that TRF has denied and resisted.
This terrorist force operates primarily in the Kashmir region with main bases in Srinagar. It has mainly targeted Indian security forces and pro-Indian politicians in Kashmir. It has been accused of attacks against the Hindu activists and Hindu civilians by the Indian government. Now this force, which is claiming itself to be a local resistance force, was founded somewhere in October 2019, following the abrogation of Article 370 and the revocation of special status to Jammu and Kashmir by the Indian government in August 2019. This force portrays itself, no doubt, as an indigenous organisation, as an indigenous Kashmir resistance movement fighting for the freedom of Jammu and Kashmir, but the Indian government has accused it as being a frontal organisation of Lashkar.
It has been noted that it considers itself — it is trying to give itself, I will request, I change my word — it is trying to give itself a sort of secular stance towards Kashmir independence. That is what is going on, and with logos, with statements, with rationale of all its literature being distinct from the past Islamic Kashmiri insurgents such as Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar, etc. It has been accused by the Indian government that this force has not only links to the various activists or insurgents; including planning of attacks is also being done by them. According to the Government of India, they have firm information that these militant groups, they are having a sort of — it starts to claim itself as an indigenous force, but it is all infiltration across the border, and the smuggling of weapons also is taking place from across the border.
The TRF claims responsibility for attack on a security officer in Anantnag district in June. Then, that is there, they said that this is an act of revenge for the killing of their leader, Commander Riyaz Ahmed, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. They say that we have killed a security officer in Anantnag as a revenge; as a guerrilla warfare strategy we have taken a revenge against killing of their leader, who is Commander Riyaz Ahmed, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. One side they claim that this is the only force which is meant local force; other side it is saying that we are taking a revenge for killing of our person, our commander, who is somewhere in Pakistan. So obviously there are definitely links with the terrorist organisation outside Kashmir.
Further, the militants also attacked the residence of a BJP vice president of Ganderbal. In this attack, one PSO of the BJP leader and one TRF militant were killed. It also attacked a BJP leader by killing a Jammu Kashmir police guard and taking his rifle away, somewhere in Srinagar. So these all indicated that a militant organisation under the name of TRF has become resurgent in the valley.
In January 2023, the Government of India banned TRF under the Unlawful Activities Act by indicating that it is actually a terrorist organisation, and designated its leader, that is Sheikh Sajjad Gul, a militant, as one of the designated terrorists. Now the ban was imposed due to Indian government's suspicion, a definite inputs, that TRF is involved in a sort of conspiracy and they may try to assassinate some Kashmir journalists somewhere in June. These are the background under which I'd like to tell you that this force known as TRF has started operating in the Kashmir Valley. So one side we have talked about the terrorist activities started in the Jammu region; other side the TRF is operating under a different name in the valley and it has become resurgent. What are your views on the subject?
Sir, I agree. Since I mentioned earlier that infiltration into the valley is becoming very difficult, the support to the terrorists coming from Pakistan side is limited because the overground and underground workers have been sorted out. Now this TRF is basically the local boys, misguided boys, who have picked up the weapon. They're the locals, so the logistic support to these — because they are operating in their respective areas, they are targeting soft targets. Example: besides what people you mentioned, sir, the BJP people, they've also been targeting the migrant labour which is working in the valley, sir. So but I don't think it is such a potent force per se, but what we have to be careful with is this yatra which is going on right now, sir.
Yes, I'd like that you elaborate on that, because yatra is likely to take place, and as the things stand today, there could be some sorts of terrorist activities. How do you plan? What are your views on this? How should they plan? How should the Government of India plan about it? Yes, please.
So the government has taken adequate steps in terms of bringing in additional security forces for this Amarnath Yatra. Today around 4,000 people from all over India are moving in for the first lot of the Amarnath Yatra. So this is a crucial point, because if something happens, it brings in a sort of a divide between the communities in the valley, sir, and also in Jammu division. So that is one aspect we have to be careful of. As you brought up, that terrorism, as far as the valley is concerned, is well under control. Jammu division has to be kept under surveillance. We have to work to ensure that there is no divide between the communities in that area. That is why provide protection to the minority community, because before the elections, which are supposed to be in September this year, these terrorists are definitely going to make an effort to create some problem somewhere. And that's all I have to say for this.
Thank you so much, General Deepak. I'd like to only add that one cannot become absolutely, you know, sort of complacent as far as the valley — one cannot be complacent, that's what I'm saying. That valley also is in the grip of sort of activities of TRF, which are camouflaging. Sometimes they say that we are locals and it is again resistance against the abrogation of Article 370; sometimes they say that we only want freedom for Jammu and Kashmir; other side they want to take revenge for somebody who has been killed in the Pakistan-occupied area. And all this shows that the tactics are — they sometimes this. So the terrorist activities in the valley, though under control, yet I think they can lift their head anytime. That is what happens in most of the terrorist areas. Unless we have completely eliminated them, unless we have completely thrown them out, unless the entire population is with us, you can never imagine as to what stage, at what time, the terrorists may come up. So therefore the terrorist activities as far as Kashmir is concerned — I appreciate your sort of conjecture that this is going to be —
I just — I've had seven tenures in J&K, sir, along the Line of Control, in the counter-insurgency operations, in staff, in command. So based on what my knowledge of that area is —
Your knowledge is there, immense. I have also been in that area. What I'm trying to say, that you cannot become, you know, sort of okay here. So we need a lot of caution as far as Kashmir Valley is concerned, but much more, I agree with you, much more is required in the Jammu area, because the operations are being supported, as you said, in the Jammu area by some ex-servicemen of Special Service Groups of Pakistan Army, as you mentioned. So therefore we have to be very, very cautious as far as Jammu region is concerned, because they are being supported by the ex-servicemen of Special Services Groups.
So with these words, word of caution for all of us, and particularly the security forces and the intelligence, I thank you once again for having discussed the resurgent and latest situation of terrorism in both Jammu and Kashmir. Thank you very much. Thank you indeed. Thank you, sir. Pleasure being with you, sir. Thank you, thank you.
