GUWAHATI, Jan 4 � The frequent firings by Pakistan along the international border in Jammu and Kashmir are viewed as attempts to facilitate infiltration by jehadi elements as hundreds of members of such groups are making attempts to sneak unto India. Meanwhile, ceasefire violations by Pakistan increased sharply in recent times.
Highly placed Army sources in Jammu and Kashmir told The Assam Tribune that the jehadi groups having bases in Pakistan are desperate to infiltrate into India as they have not been able to make much headway in recent times and a number of infiltration bids were also foiled by the security forces.
According to intelligence inputs, more than 800 trained cadres of the jehadi and terrorist groups are waiting just across the international border, but they have not been able to do so because of strict vigil and once the snowfall become heavy, their task would become more difficult. That is why, the terrorist groups are desperate to push in their people into India and the firings by personnel of Pakistani Army and Pakistan Rangers have also increased. Sources said that according to a report of the Ministry of Home Affairs, last year, despite strict vigil by the Indian security forces, around 60 jehadis managed to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir, while, according to the estimate of the police force of the State, around 150 militants, mostly foreigners, are still active in the State.
Sources admitted that the number of ceasefire violations by Pakistan increased very sharply last year and the trend continues in the first few days of this year. Last year, more than 500 incidents of ceasefire violations were reported along the line of actual control and international border in Jammu and Kashmir, guarded by the Army and Border Security Force. The figure is much higher than the last few year as 114 such incidents were reported in 2012 and 347 were reported in 2013.
Army sources pointed out that the level of violence in Jammu and Kashmir has been decreasing in the last nine years and the incidents of killings of civilians also came down. The fencing along the border and strong counter-insurgency and anti-infiltration measures taken by the Indian forces also made life difficult for the members of the jehadi groups. The traditional routes of infiltration along the LoC are also almost sealed due to strong vigil and the jehadi groups are increasingly becoming desperate. Of late, more ceasefire violations are taking place in the areas, which were not considered vulnerable for such infiltration bids earlier, which proved that the jehadi elements are looking for new routes to come into India.
Sources further said that ISI-backed groups like Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lasker-e-Toiba, Harkat-ul-Mujaheedin, etc., have strong bases just across the border. The strength of the terror groups has dwindled in Jammu and Kashmir in recent times and in the counter-insurgency operations in 2014, 102 terrorists were killed and 47 were apprehended, while more than 390 weapons were seized. In the year, the Army also suffered 29 fatal casualties in the trouble-torn State.
