Security forces gear up for winter operations to stamp out terrorism in Kashmir as ‘threat’ from Mumbai attack suspect Hafiz Saeed looms
- Military are preparing for harsh winter in Jammu and Kashmir
- Sources say intelligence indicates that terror groups will try to revive efforts
- Hafiz Saeed, suspected 26/11 Mumbair attack mastermind, is out of jail
- See more news from India at www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome
As security personnel prepare to further intensify their operations in the winter to break the backbone of terror infrastructure, forces have received intelligence that alleged 26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed could revive terror activities in the Valley.
Senior Army sources said the next two to three months of harsh winter would be crucial for security agencies because, if they are able to further eliminate the top terror leadership, it would make it difficult for the groups to sustain their operations in the state.
In 2017, after Gen Bipin Rawat took over as Army chief, the Army, local police and other paramilitary forces have killed 202 terrorists, including 25 commanders, some of whom had been in the business of terrorism for over a decade.
The military are preparing for harsh winter in Jammu and Kashmir
‘The terrorist leadership is in disarray due to the relentless operations and terror groups that have become almost leaderless due to the kills. We will keep the tempo going in the winter as well to make it difficult for them to survive,’ a source said.
Sources said in recent months the number of killings by security forces has been more than the number of recruits taken in by terror groups and most terrorists operating now are relatively new.
Sources said Pakistan-based groups would try to send in more terrorists in Kashmir in the coming months, but their chances of succeeding would be very slim due to snow and extra vigilance along the LoC.
Hafiz Saeed is a designated a global terrorist by the US and who has a $10 million bounty on his head
‘The focus of operations would be to eliminate as many terrorists as possible during the winter,’ a source said.
Meanwhile, security sources said inputs have been received that very soon, Hafiz Saeed would be in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir to push terrorists into India in view of frequent elimination of terror commanders.
Top security sources said Saeed’s release from jail in Pakistan had raised fears that he would rejuvenate terrorism in Kashmir.
Sunday marked the ninth anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack in which the iconic Taj Mahal Palace was one of the targets
‘Though he has been active in jail as well but now, he will be sent to forward areas in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir to motivate terrorists sitting in launch pads to carry out attacks on security forces,’ said the source.
Saeed was in jail for almost eight months but was released last week as Pakistani authorities didn’t produce any evidence against him, after which a Pakistani court released him.
In 2017, the number of attacks being carried out by terrorists on security forces has come down drastically since the troops are now going all out for search and destroy operations as could been seen from the recent mission in Hajin of Bandipora district, where they went to the terrorists’ hideout and killed them.
About the role of Pakistan in J&K, sources said infiltration attempts were at an all-time high with 291 bids by jihadis to sneak in along the LoC till September 30 against 165 attempts in the corresponding period last year.
The push from Pakistan is far greater than ever as they are getting frustrated in their attempts to change the atmosphere in the Valley which was visited by around 12 lakh domestic tourists this year.