Terrorists asked to stay put in safe houses till global media keeps eyes peeled

In the wake of abrogation of Article 370, intelligence inputs suggest that Pakistan has directed terrorist organisations to keep a low profile for now and confine themselves to inciting violence through civil unrest without taking direct part in protests.

With international power and media keeping close tabs on development in Kashmir and Indian security forces on high alert, Pakistan can’t take the risk of being caught red handed while sending jehadi elements  into the Valley.

Apart from strategising   unrest, the Pakistani establishment has also asked its rogue elements to go for snatching weapons from vulnerable posts and patrol teams and make local youths accountable for such incidents. The local terrorist cadre have been instructed to use phones only after Internet is restored to avoid detection.

Sharing these inputs here on Tuesday, sources in the security establishment said latest intelligence reports indicate Pakistan has directed terrorist organisations to incite passions leading to massive protests. In the event security forces take action resulting in casualties, the law enforcement agencies should be held responsible for human rights violations, Pakistan handlers have told terrorists.

Unlike in the past when the cadre of terrorist organisations used to take part in protests, the new directive asks them to refrain from doing so to avoid detection, capture or neutralisation.

As regards security measures, officials said while the local police and paramilitary have fanned out in sensitive urban centres in the Kashmir Valley, the Army is carrying out aggressive patrolling and area domination exercises in the hinterland to prevent terrorists space and time to move.

In fact, coupled with the communication lockdown and massive presence of security personnel, the terrorists are holed up in safe houses and are unable to be in touch with their colleagues, sources said.

Against this backdrop, no encounters have taken place in the last seven to eight days as the terrorists are unable to move and are directionless as the top leadership of terrorist organisations was neutralised in the last few months. 

There are about 250 terrorists present in Kashmir and officials fear they will carry out attacks once restrictions in place places like Anantnag, Pulwama, Sopore and Shopian, are eased.

The security forces are not taking any chances as Pakistan may try to stoke unrest in J&K on the eve of Independence Day celebrations.

Possibility of IED blasts and fidayeen (suicide) attacks pose a challenge and the commanders are redrawing their tactics to prevent any untoward incident.

The Army is also bracing for an increase in ceasefire violations on the Line of Control(LoC) by the Pakistan Army to give covering fire to nearly 300 terrorists waiting across the border to infiltrate into the State.  Officials have also not ruled the possibility of the Pakistan Army targeting civilian hamlets on the Indian side during ceasefire violations to spread panic.  Under domestic pressure to show solidarity with the Kashmiris, Pakistan may also resort to triggering terrorist incidents not only in the state but other parts of the country, sources said.