Buoyant Over Taliban's Afghan Takeover, ISI Adopting More Aggressive Approach In J&K: Report

Certain sources from the Indian security establishment believe that the Pakistani ISI will be aiming for a more aggressive strategy in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) following the Taliban’s successful takeover of Afghanistan.

In fact, the ISI has been promoting its terrorist outfits like Al-Badr, LeT and JeM in J&K since the last couple of months in lines with its new strategy.

One of the sources from the security establishment told the Times of India (TOI) that about 200 terrorists are presently active in J&K. Moreover, the count of local ultras and foreign terrorists amongst these are almost equal.

A senior intelligence functionary informed the publication that the revitalization of infiltration and terror launchpads across the Pakistani border is ISI’s attempt to stir the situation in J&K.

They had apparently practiced some caution on this front due to the apprehension of being blacklisted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in the recent past.

Moreover, the Indian security system is also cautious of the fact that military equipment and weapons left behind by the US forces in Afghanistan could even land up in J&K owing to the ISI’s nexus with the Taliban.

J&K police sources confided to the TOI that infiltration activities have increased in north Kashmir and Jammu since July 2021. Terror launchpads as well as routes for infiltration have become quite active in areas like Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipore.

The security in the UT is also concerned over the terror outfits' engaging locals for small activities like throwing grenade instead of handing them any major responsibility as such.

“These locals are paid good money for a one-off assignment. They mostly do the limited job and then merge into the civilian population. So it becomes very difficult to track them and get anything concrete to nail them,” a police official was quoted by the TOI.

Measures such as fortification of the border grid and enhancement of surveillance across the Pakistani border are being taken to neutralise the ISI’s activities. The police are even tracking down overground workers who are likely to facilitate missions of terrorists and provide them shelter and hideouts in villages.

“We are closely watching more suspected ones, some of whom try to project themselves as ‘nationalists’, and will crack down upon them in the days ahead,” another officer told the TOI.