The peaceful region of Jammu has recently experienced a significant surge in terrorist activity, with districts such as Akhnoor, Doda, Kathua, Reasi, Rajouri, and Udhampur bearing the brunt of escalating violence throughout 2024.
These districts, due to their proximity to the international border or the Line of Control (LoC), have become vulnerable points for terrorist attacks.
Terrorists can strike and then retreat quickly into Pakistani territory, often with the assistance of the Pakistani army stationed along the International Border (IB) and LoC.
In the recently carried out attacks, terrorists have targeted security convoys, pilgrims, village defence guards, and police personnel, escalating the level of violence in the area.
A particularly harrowing incident occurred on 8th July, when Pakistani terrorists ambushed Army vehicles in the remote Machedi area of Kathua district.
The ambush took place on an unpaved road, a spot meticulously chosen by the terrorists to exploit the slowed movement of military convoys.
Security and defence experts attribute this surge in violence to several critical factors. Jammu’s rugged landscape, marked by mountains, dense forests, and natural caves, offers ideal hiding spots for terrorists.
These geographical features make it exceedingly difficult for security forces to effectively track and neutralise threats.
Additionally, the region’s underdeveloped infrastructure, including unpaved roads, facilitates terrorist ambushes at strategic blind curves where vehicles must slow down, making them easy targets.
Terrorists have been using sophisticated communication devices and receiving assistance from local collaborators, enabling them to avoid detection and coordinate attacks more effectively.
For years, Jammu enjoyed relative peace, with no significant terror incidents reported since 2006. However, the landscape of terrorism in the region has drastically changed since 2021.
Experts suggest several underlying reasons for this shift: The abrogation of Article 370 and subsequent confrontations with China in eastern Ladakh in 2020 resulted in a significant redeployment of troops from the Western Theatre Command, creating a security vacuum in Jammu.
Due to stringent counter-terror operations in the Kashmir Valley, terrorists, primarily foreigners, have adjusted their strategies.
They have shifted their focus to Jammu’s hilly terrain, allowing them to use hit-and-run tactics and disappear into the forests before reinforcements arrive.
The upcoming assembly elections, mandated by a Supreme Court directive to occur before the end of September, have further complicated the situation.
Analysts believe that Pakistan, unsettled by the high voter turnout in recent Lok Sabha polls, is attempting to destabilise the region to disrupt the electoral process.
There are growing speculations that Pakistani handlers are orchestrating the recent spike in terror incidents.
They say this might be a strategy to assist General Asim Munir in securing an extension as Pakistan's army chief, with his retirement scheduled for November this year.
Security agencies have ramped up their efforts to dismantle the terror network in Jammu and Kashmir amid this surge in attacks.
However, the complex terrain and evolving tactics of terrorists continue to present significant challenges.
The situation remains fluid, and the need for robust and adaptive security measures is more critical than ever.
Follow us
