Drug Terrorism,A Silent War on Kashmir’s Future
Mir Gowhar
In the beautiful valleys of Kashmir, where the sound of gunfire has faded due to stronger security measures, a new and deadly silent enemy has emerged. For decades, Pakistan pushed young Kashmiris into violence by supplying guns, grenades, and false promises of freedom. When tighter borders and better policing reduced militancy, the strategy changed. Guns were replaced with drugs—mainly heroin—flooded across the Line of Control. This is not random smuggling. Security agencies call it **drug terrorism**, a deliberate plan to destroy Kashmir from within by targeting its youth, the backbone of society.
The scale of the crisis is alarming. Just days ago, on January 3, 2026, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg stated that drug addiction has tripled in the Valley over the last three years, with heroin use rising sharply among the younger generation. Reports estimate tens of thousands of addicts, many starting in their teens. Unemployment, stress from past conflict, and easy availability push vulnerable youth towards substances. What starts as curiosity or escape often turns into lifelong addiction.
Security forces have repeatedly pointed to cross-border networks linked to Pakistan as the main source. These networks not only supply drugs but also use profits to fund terror activities. In 2025, police across Jammu and Kashmir registered around 1,000 NDPS cases in the Kashmir division alone, leading to nearly 1,400 arrests. Properties worth over Rs 70 crore linked to drug trade were attached. In Jammu region, 311 peddlers, including 35 women, were arrested, and heroin worth over Rs 60 crore was seized. Major busts, like in Shopian and other districts, disrupted large networks with significant recoveries.
The human cost is devastating. Young people lose their health, dreams, and future. A young woman named Afiya (name changed), in her 20s, shared her story of getting trapped in heroin addiction, describing it as being “stuck in a nightmare.” Thousands like her battle daily. Families suffer in silence—parents sell land or homes for treatment, brothers and sisters drop studies to support, and entire villages see playgrounds turn into hiding spots for addicts. Drugs achieve what bullets could not: they quietly shatter ambitions, break families, spread diseases like Hepatitis C, and leave deep scars on society for generations.
Pakistan’s claim of supporting Kashmiris rings hollow. Having once armed teenagers for insurgency, it now poisons them with drugs. The aim remains the same—to keep the region unstable and prevent progress.
Yet, there is strong resistance. The government is fighting back aggressively under the NDPS Act, with special task forces, border vigilance, and massive seizures. De-addiction centres across the Valley offer treatment, counselling, and rehabilitation. In a unique and powerful move, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has roped in over 100 mosque imams and religious scholars. Recently, they were trained at workshops to spread anti-drug messages during Friday sermons, reaching millions in mosques and communities. This initiative uses the trust people have in religious leaders to educate about the dangers of drugs and encourage families to act.
The “Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyaan” is gaining momentum, with awareness programmes in schools, colleges, and villages. Youth pledges, rallies, and community events are bringing people together. Districts like Kulgam have achieved zero poppy cultivation through collective efforts.
This war cannot be won by police and government alone. It needs every one of us. Parents must watch their children closely and talk openly. Teachers should include drug awareness in lessons. Religious leaders must continue speaking out. Communities should isolate peddlers and report suspicious activities. We must address root causes like unemployment by creating jobs and opportunities for youth.
Kashmir’s young generation has already suffered too much from external forces. We cannot allow drugs to claim another generation. This is drug terrorism—a calculated attack on our future. With unity, awareness, strong action, and zero tolerance, we can defeat it. Let us protect our youth and build a strong, healthy, drug-free Kashmir for tomorrow.
