The adverse effect of US troops’ withdrawal from Afghanistan is making itself feltin Jammu and Kashmir. Intelligence agencies say at least six groups ofterrorists have infiltrated the Kashmir Valley with some high-value targets ontheir agenda. Inputs by various agencies are now being matched by theMulti-Agency Centre.
Indicationsare that at least 25-30 terrorists have been keeping various security forcesengaged for the last one month. This number is apart from those terrorists whowere already in Jammu and Kashmir, sources said.
Evidenceon the ground shows the level of violence in Jammu and Kashmir has gone up significantlyover the last month. Every day for the last one month, either an IED attack onsecurity forces or attacks on political leaders are being reported.
It isnoted that the terrorist activity has also increased on launch pads, which wereabandoned after the ceasefire was announced in February this year.
Numerousintelligence agencies indicate that as many as 300 terrorists have againprepared the camps across the Line of Control. “We are also on alert and areprepared,” said an officer leading counter-terror operations in the Kashmirvalley.
Accordingto him, after the takeover of Kabul by Taliban two weeks ago, social media isbuzzing with congratulatory messages.
“Recently,a video that went viral got a lot of traction in Jammu and Kashmir. In that video,some boys who had gone over to Afghanistan to fight along with the Taliban, cameback to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. The video shows they got a hero’s welcomeback in PoK,” he said.
Accordingto him, they are watching social media regularly as such video clips tend tomotivate youngsters in Kashmir too as they see them as “Victorious warriors”.
Anotherissue which is giving sleepless nights to the police of Jammu and Kashmir isaround 60 young men have gone missing from their homes in the last couple ofmonths.
“Theywent saying they are going to attend on someone or for some work, but now theyare missing. This is a serious concern,” he added. ‘We have been asking andappealing to all misguided youth who have joined terror groups to quit violenceand return to the mainstream,” said Vijay Kumar, the top police officer inKashmir.