In the wake of India’s successful Operation Sindoor, which targeted terrorist camps across the Line of Control in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, security forces are now on high alert regarding the presence of foreign terrorists, predominantly from Pakistan, operating in Jammu and Kashmir.
Top sources within the security apparatus have revealed to News24 that a series of high-level meetings have been convened in both Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi to address the imminent threat posed by these Pakistani terrorists. A comprehensive strategy is being devised to thwart any potential attacks and neutralize this threat swiftly.
Current estimates suggest that between 110 to 125 Pakistani terrorists are active in Jammu and Kashmir, with approximately 65 operating specifically within the Kashmir Valley. These highly trained operatives are believed to be hiding in forested areas, receiving logistical support from local terrorists, whose numbers are estimated to be around 10 to 12 in the Kashmir Valley. Notably, many of these local terrorists have reportedly undergone training in Pakistan.
Official data indicates that there are fewer than 140 active terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, comprising both local and foreign operatives. In the Kashmir division alone, there are around 65 foreign terrorists and 12 locals. Meanwhile, the Jammu division has about 55-60 terrorists, with only three being locals; the majority are foreign terrorists skilled in jungle warfare.
Among these foreign terrorists, three have been identified as key suspects in the recent Pahalgam attack: Hashim Musa, Ali Bhai, and Waleed Bhai. The police have announced a bounty of 20 lakh rupees each for information leading to their capture or elimination. Intelligence sources indicate that all three were involved in the Pahalgam attack on tourists, an assault on tunnel construction workers in Sonmarg last year, and various attacks on army personnel throughout Kashmir. Hashim Musa is particularly notorious; he is said to have received specialized training in jungle warfare while serving in Pakistan’s elite Special Services Group (SSG) before being dispatched to Kashmir to bolster the operations of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Additionally, two local terrorists, Aadil Gori of Anantnag and Zakir Ganaie of Kulgam, South Kaahmir, are believed to have connections to the Pahalgam attack and may have assisted Musa and his associates in targeting innocent tourists. The police have also placed rewards for information leading to their apprehension.
With most terrorists hiding in forested regions of Jammu and Kashmir and supported by a network of Over Ground Workers (OGWs), intelligence reports suggest that following Operation Sindoor’s success, these terrorists have been directed to launch strikes against security forces in the J-K.
In response to this heightened threat, the joint forces of JK Police, Army, and paramilitary units remain vigilant and proactive. The intelligence network has been significantly bolstered since the Pahalgam attack, leading to the arrest of several active terrorists and successful elimination of six local terrorists—including two commanders from Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed—in recent encounters in South Kashmir.
