Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jan 8: Indian intelligence and law enforcement agencies have flagged a concerning trend of residents from Jammu and Kashmir attempting to cross into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan. Officials say such movements, prevalent during the 1990s, appear to be resurfacing, prompting renewed vigilance and enforcement action.
Recently, Poonch Police seized the properties of Pakistan-based terror handlers Rafiq Nai and Jamal Lone. Both are accused of not only facilitating infiltration but also actively encouraging locals to move across the border. Jamal Lone, who reportedly exfiltrated into PoK, is said to be engaged in anti-India activities and recruiting locals to aid Pakistan’s strategic objectives.
Officials warn that Pakistan seeks to increase the presence of Jammu and Kashmir residents in PoK for multiple purposes, including narcotics smuggling and assisting terrorist infiltrations. Intelligence sources highlight that the ISI is looking to deploy locals as terror guides to help Pakistani terrorists navigate the region’s terrain.
Similar to tactics in the 1990s, mosques across the border reportedly broadcast messages luring people with promises of better livelihoods and financial incentives. While officials stress that the scale of current exfiltrations is smaller than in the past, there is a concerted attempt to attract more youth. Social media has emerged as a powerful tool in spreading propaganda and disinformation to facilitate this effort.
An Intelligence Bureau official noted that many individuals who crossed over previously regretted their decision and returned with India’s assistance, undergoing rehabilitation before reintegration into society. Authorities warn that without timely intervention, these exfiltrations could pose a more serious security threat.
Following the 2017 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people, India launched Operation Sindoor, significantly weakening Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad networks. In response, Pakistan shifted its strategy, focusing on homegrown terror modules and local Over Ground Worker (OGW) networks, including women, to maintain operational capability in the region.
Officials say exfiltration attempts have been particularly concentrated in the Poonch-Rajouri sector, a historically targeted area. The ISI aims to exploit locals’ knowledge of terrain to facilitate terrorist infiltration, alongside engaging them in activities such as narco-smuggling and counterfeiting.
Authorities have intensified crackdowns on individuals who have crossed into PoK and Pakistan and are attempting to lure others. Properties of these elements have been seized, and enforcement action is expected to escalate in the coming days.
This effort is part of a broader strategy to curb the resurgence of local recruitment and infiltration networks, aiming to safeguard Jammu and Kashmir from both internal and cross-border threats.