Jammu Region Faces Unprecedented Security Challenge With 120 Daily Anti-Terror Operations

Srinagar:

Approximately 120 counter-terrorism operations are conducted daily throughout the Jammu region, highlighting the significant security threats in an area that was terrorism-free just a few years ago. Police officials indicate that the presence of foreign terrorists in Jammu poses a substantial security challenge. Security forces are implementing counter-terrorist operations at unprecedented levels to eliminate these emerging threats.

"We launch about 120 anti-terrorist operations daily in the Jammu zone. This has become our routine procedure, including both speculative operations and precise, intelligence-driven missions, which continue uninterrupted," stated Bhim Sen Tuti, Jammu's police chief.

Tuti expressed confidence that through persistent operations, security forces will soon neutralize the foreign terrorists hiding in Jammu's higher elevations. "Foreign terrorists have emerged as a major challenge over the past two years. We are enhancing both our counter-terrorism grid and border protection measures," he added.

The Jammu region has become a significant terrorism target over the last four years. Reports indicate that numerous foreign terrorists, highly trained in jungle warfare, have established themselves in various forest areas across the region.

These militants have been implicated in multiple attacks against military personnel and civilians. Following nearly every attack, the terrorists have successfully evaded capture.

Major terrorist incidents in Jammu province began in October 2021, when Pakistan-supported terrorists ambushed army soldiers in Poonch district's Surankote area.

Since that time, the region has experienced a series of attacks targeting both military forces and civilians. Several Hindu civilians and Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims have been killed in terrorist assaults during this period.

Terrorists equipped with advanced weaponry—including American-made M4 carbines and sophisticated encrypted communication systems—have created serious security challenges in the region.

Despite deploying large numbers of troops throughout various parts of Jammu, security forces have achieved limited success in removing terrorists from the treacherous mountainous terrain and dense forests.

Officials report that citizens regularly alert authorities about suspicious activities in different areas of Jammu. Security forces always respond rapidly. However, despite the unprecedented scale of operations, the terrorists continue to remain elusive.

Counter-insurgency experts suggest that conducting anti-terrorist operations on such a massive scale not only indicates the security challenges in the region but also reflects the lack of reliable intelligence. With 120 operations daily, security forces are executing approximately 3,600 counter-terrorist operations monthly and around 44,000 operations annually.

Until 2021, the Jammu region was largely free from terrorism, with anti-terror operations primarily focused on the Kashmir Valley. While terrorism in the Valley remains a concern, particularly following the devastating Pahalgam attack in April, terrorists appear to have relocated or expanded their operations to the mountains of Jammu.