Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 28: Army has re-devised its strategy on the Line of Control (LoC) following inputs that Pakistan’s Tehreek-e-Taliban cadre have also started grouping close to the LoC and could try to infiltrate into the Indian territory ahead of upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Army has revisited its strategy on the LoC after spurt in Taliban activities in Pakistan, where it carried out twin terror attacks at Karachi Airport and Kabul in Afghanistan, where Indian Embassy and other installations were targeted recently.
“The Taliban activities could witness a spurt after the withdrawal of United States and NATO troops from Afghanistan like Iraq,’’ official sources observed.
The Taliban could try to divert to Jammu and Kashmir after the United States pull out from Afghanistan as already authorities have intercepted a video message of Tehreek-Taliban in which its commanders were heard telling their cadre to shift to Kashmir.
“We have not taken the video lightly though it could be mischief and handiwork of some upper ground workers of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen outfits, whose cadre were feeling highly demoralized following killing and arrests of several militants including their commanders in the Kashmir Valley,’’ sources said.
They added that in view of the reports about Taliban cadre trying to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir especially before the Assembly elections scheduled in Jammu and Kashmir in November-December, the Army has devised a well planned strategy along the LoC to ensure that no militant—be he a Taliban or any other cadre of the outfit—managed to infiltrate inside the Indian territory.
“We have our strategy in place well in advance. Our troops have been adequately briefed by the commanders on the threat perception of Taliban. Though there seems no immediate threat of Taliban, even if it (the threat) is there, we are well prepared to take care of them. They (the Taliban) would meet same fate on the LoC just like any other militants, trying to infiltrate into the Indian territory, had been facing,’’ sources said.
It may be mentioned here that first visible sign of Taliban cadre trying to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir was visible early last months when two assault rifles recovered from the slain militants were found carrying words ‘TET’ on them. The word ‘TET’ is commonly used by Pakistan Taliban to claim responsibility of attacks mostly in Waziristan and other areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan, where the outfit has considerable presence.
There had been very specific inputs that militants, not necessarily Taliban, were desperate to disturb Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir after their failure to make their presence felt in the Parliament elections and they could go all out to infiltrate into the State as their cadre has dwindled in the entire State. Even the left out cadre was facing enormous short of weaponry.
Sources said Army has been put on very high alert all along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir and asked to ensure that no successful infiltration attempt takes place. During first half of this year, there had been reports that only 10 militants have infiltrated into this side in the Kashmir Valley. The figure was very low as compared to last year, they added.
Follow our WhatsApp channel