Dr Noor Zahgeer:
The myth that scrapping Article 370 would usher in peace for Jammu and Kashmir has been shattered. The notion that it was the sole driver of terrorism was always flawed—Pakistan’s proxy war and local opportunists have long fueled the region’s unrest. Now, Jammu, once a bastion of relative calm, is under assault. A string of deadly encounters across Udhampur, Kishtwar, Kathua, Poonch, and Rajouri reveals a chilling truth: terror outfits are orchestrating a calculated campaign to destabilize the region. This is not a series of random skirmishes but a strategic push that demands an urgent, unflinching response.
Recent weeks have painted a grim picture. On April 9, 2025, security forces clashed with militants in Udhampur’s Jopher village, where a Special Operations Group team faced heavy fire after cornering suspects in a dense forest. Hours later, Kishtwar’s Chatroo belt erupted in gunfire as troops engaged another group of armed infiltrators. These incidents followed a brutal encounter in Kathua, where four policemen and two terrorists died in late March, and a ceasefire violation in Poonch that saw Indian and Pakistani forces trading fire across the Line of Control. As one X user put it, “Jammu is burning while we pretend it’s just another day. Pakistan’s playbook is clear—shift the battlefield south.”
The audacity of these attacks, coming days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to assess border security in Kathua on April 7, sends a defiant message. Shah’s meetings with BSF troops and reviews of anti-terror operations were meant to signal control, yet militants struck with precision, targeting Jammu’s arteries—its highways and transit routes. The Jammu-Srinagar highway, a lifeline for trade and travel, has faced repeated disruptions, sowing panic and strangling commerce. Locals recount vehicles stranded for hours, with fear replacing the bustle of daily life. In Kathua’s Panjtirthi area, a March 31 standoff left residents holed up as security forces hunted three militants who had forced their way into a civilian home for supplies.
This isn’t happenstance. Terrorists are exploiting Jammu’s geography—its rugged hills, thick forests, and proximity to the border—to stage prolonged operations. Seasonal snowmelt once dictated infiltration patterns, but that’s no longer the full story. Last year’s Rajouri standoff, where militants held off forces for weeks, showed their growing resilience. A top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander, Zia-ur-Rehman, killed in Pakistan in March 2025, was linked to multiple attacks in Poonch and Rajouri, revealing a sophisticated network with deep roots. Another X post captured the frustration: “Villagers report armed men, yet we call them ‘suspicious persons.’ Why deny the obvious? This is war, not a law-and-order glitch.”
The drug mafia’s role adds another layer of menace. The April 9 attack on police in Bari Brahmana, where officers were hacked with axes during a drug raid, exposed how narco-profits bankroll terror. Jammu’s location makes it a smuggling hub, with cash flowing to groups like Jaish-e-Mohammad, whose commander Saifullah was killed in Kishtwar on April 11 alongside two others. These aren’t isolated crimes but threads in a larger tapestry of destabilization.
Why is Jammu bleeding? The answer lies in gaps that beg to be plugged. Intelligence failures persist—Kathua’s March operation began only after villagers tipped off police about infiltrators. Coordination between agencies remains patchy, with real-time data often stuck in silos. Security forces, stretched thin since troop redeployments to Ladakh, struggle to cover vast terrains. As one former J&K DGP noted on X, “Terrorists are moving to Jammu because Kashmir’s grid is tighter. We need to adapt, not react.”
Reactive firefights won’t cut it. Jammu needs a proactive overhaul. First, intelligence must be sharpened—drones, thermal imaging, and AI-driven analytics can map militant hideouts in real time. Second, border security demands an upgrade. Amit Shah’s push for electronic surveillance along the International Border is a start, but it’s years from completion. Smart fencing, motion sensors, and 24/7 patrolling must be fast-tracked. Third, local police need more than morale boosts—they require elite training and firepower to match the enemy’s. The Bari Brahmana attack showed officers outmatched; that can’t happen again.
Dismantling support networks is just as critical. Militants rely on overground workers for food, shelter, and intel. The NIA’s probes into Poonch-Rajouri attacks uncovered webs of local complicity, often coerced or bought. Community outreach, like the Army’s Operation Sadbhavana, can rebuild trust, encouraging residents to report suspicious activity. Cyber-monitoring must also intensify—encrypted apps from Pakistan, as one X user flagged, are outpacing our intercepts.
Policy must match ground reality. Shah’s April 8 security review in Srinagar called for “heightened arrangements,” but words need teeth. Rapid Response Teams in every high-risk district, backed by choppers and SWAT units, could slash reaction times. Cutting terror funding—through narco-channels or digital wallets—requires global cooperation, targeting hubs in Pakistan and beyond. And while Shah promises statehood, stability hinges on jobs and roads, not just rhetoric.
Jammu’s people deserve better than fear. In Kishtwar, families mourn a JCO killed along the LoC on April 11, his sacrifice a stark reminder of the cost. In Udhampur, shopkeepers whisper about “ghosts in the hills,” their trade hit by curfews. These aren’t statistics—they’re lives upended. Complacency risks undoing decades of progress. The government must act with surgical precision: fortify borders, empower forces, engage communities, and choke the enemy’s lifelines. Jammu isn’t just land—it’s a testament to resilience. Let’s protect it, not with half-measures, but with unrelenting resolve.
Note: Dr. Noour Ali Zehgeer is a global business leader with 29 years of experience, specializing in telecom and international operations. An award-winning executive, he drives growth through strategic planning and market expansion across EMEA.
