Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, June 11: Pakistani terror groups are learnt to be increasingly using women and children to carry weapons and messages across the border as a change of tactics to continue terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
Some top army officers have said Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and heads of terror groups to rope in women and juveniles to carry weapons and messages has come to light amid a decline in the use of traditional means of communication by terrorists in Kashmir valley.
The officers said the Indian forces need to be cautious as people sitting across the Line of Control (LoC) were busy scheming and planning new tactics to disturb the prevailing peaceful atmosphere. “Today’s threat, as I see it, is involving women, girls and juveniles in carrying messages, drugs or, at times, weapons. So far, the army has detected some cases highlighting an emerging trend which in itself is a dangerous move that Pakistan’s ISI and heads of ‘tanzeems’ (terror groups) have adopted. We, along with other agencies, are jointly working out on this.”
The officials agreed that the terror groups have stopped or reduced using mobile communication techniques particularly after many over ground workers acting as their conduits have been picked up by the intelligence agencies. “Therefore, now women, girls and juveniles have been roped in as an alternative to mainly carry messages,” army officers in the valley said.
“We have come a long way in ensuring peace and stability in Kashmir, but I will be naive to claim an early victory as we feel that every gain needs to be cemented before achieving lasting peace in the Union territory,” the officers said. They said the challenge before the Indian forces was that the neighbouring country has not given up on its intent and was repeatedly creating trouble on both sides of Pir Panjal. The latest infiltration bid in the Machil sector of north Kashmir was a testimony of his blatant indulgence.
The officials, however, said all security agencies, including those from the Union Territory administration, were well geared up to thwart any nefarious designs of the adversary. “The propensity of infiltration along the Line of Control in Kashmir may have shown some decrease, but there have been some attempts in South of Pir Panjal as well as neighbouring Punjab.
“We need to be cautious and not let our guard down at any cost. National security is our prime responsibility. We will leave no stone unturned to maintain it,” the officials said. “We are cognisant of the likely threats from across and accordingly ensure to the best of our abilities that the current peace and normalcy achieved through collective efforts is not put at risk by inimical elements,” the officials said.
The actions taken by the Indian forces have kept the terrorists on their toes and a majority of them have either “migrated out of the valley or have been lying low.” Though the exact number of terrorists either local or foreign still active in the region was not known, it was expected to be the lowest in the last 33 years, the officials believe.
The terror attacks and encounters between terrorists and security forces have witnessed a decline in Kashmir this year which reflects a positive sign and augurs well towards peace and normalcy in all spheres and domains. The officials believe that there was a perceptible shift in the sentiments of the local population towards violence which was highly commendable and “the challenge for us is to sustain it in the coming times.” The need of the hour is to strengthen the confidence of the population with the security forces and the relevant government machinery, he said.
“After all, if we have been able to reach this point, it is thanks to the cooperation of the people,” the officials pointed out. Based on the changing security environment, “we have also amended our methodology and given in for more people-friendly operations,” they said. “We are optimistic that collectively we will be successful in ushering a new normal of peace in Kashmir in the days to come.”
