Shift in terror in Jammu and Kashmir

Three districts of Jammu area i.e., Poonch, Rajouri and Jammu – compared to the strikes within the valley, have witnessed a lesser quantity, however extra hostile, bloody and high-visibility terror assaults since 2021. Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch are constituents of the larger Jammu area and are positioned to the south and west of the Pir Panjal mountain vary which separates them from the valley.

In response to the information assessed between January 2021 and Could 30, 2023, 75 civilians and 24 safety personnel have been killed on each side of the Pir Panjal mountain vary positioned within the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. 

Since 2021, 236 of the 251 terrorist-initiated violence befell within the valley and 15 of them within the three Jammu districts. The valley witnessed a relatively increased variety of terror incidents which accounts for 129, 100 and seven within the years 2021, 2022 and 2023 (till Could 30), whereas the three districts within the Jammu area underwent 2, 10 and three such incidents. 

Since 2021, the variety of civilian casualties has additionally elevated within the valley with a demise toll of 60, whereas the Jammu area has recorded 15 civilian deaths.

Although the numeric knowledge displays a better variety of assaults and casualties within the valley as in comparison with the Jammu area, the change within the development of the assaults has been observed by the safety institution – high-impact assaults have been witnessed by the Jammu area South of the Pir Panjal vary which have induced most injury. One of many latest such incidents occurred on Could 5, whereby 5 navy personnel have been killed in Rajouri in a forested space. Two weeks earlier than this assault, on April 20, 5 troopers have been killed in Poonch when their truck was set alight.

In an assault on a navy camp in Rajouri, in August 2022, 5 troopers have been killed and in October 2021, 9 troopers together with a JCO, have been killed in two separate assaults within the forests between Dehra Ki Gali and Bhata Durian. There have been a number of assaults on civilians as effectively.

In response to an announcement of a senior military officer, it’s evident from the information that the terrorist infiltration occurs from the decrease mountainous areas of Poonch and Rajouri, the place they stage visually grand incidents after which cross the Pir Panjal vary to enter and situate themselves within the Valley area.

An official within the safety institution said that by way of a lesser quantity however high-impact assaults which contain casualties of safety personnel in addition to civilians, the terrorists obtain the publicity that they search. Simpler and all-weather infiltration routes are accessed from the South of the Pir Panjal mountain vary. However because the terrorists should not have a ample logistics base on this area, those who’re despatched to infiltrate this area are extra robust and hardened and intention for safety personnel and civilians.

The official said that due to the upper impression of the incidents in Jammu compared to the small scale and routine incidents within the Valley, even infamous incidents within the Valley fail to seize public consideration at occasions, which they might have in the event that they occurred South of the Pir Panjal vary.

In response to sources, over the past 5 years, many of the ceasefire violations and terrorist infiltrations have occurred by way of LOC adjoining the three Jammu districts. The assorted causes cited as to why these areas are being more and more focused are the 2 predominant roads that go by way of this area – the outdated Mughal Street and the Jammu-Srinagar freeway; and the topography of the land, which has forested hills of decrease altitude.