More than 30 months ago, then DG Border Security Force (BSF) and current Deputy National Security Advisor Pankaj Singh had warned about the possibility of Pakistan using Taliban fighters, as well as arms and war equipment left behind by US-led forces in Afghanistan, to disturb Jammu & Kashmir.
Similarly, former DG CRPF and NIA Kuldiep Singh had also warned about Pakistan potentially using trained Taliban fighters, arms, and ammunition in Kashmir. However, no one expected that such plans were made for both Jammu and Kashmir.
Unfortunately, all these concerns now seem to be taking the shape of reality which is set to make the coming days tougher for security forces.
Apart from recovery of American-make weapons after different encounters, data also hints at the same direction for supply of weapons from Afghanistan to Pakistan that have reached Kashmir, posing the next level of challenge for security forces.
BSF’s latest official data shows a year-on-year increase in both weapon recoveries and AK-series weapon recoveries since 2021. This year, up until May, the BSF had recovered close to 1,600 rounds of AK-series ammunition, compared to just 435 rounds last year. The recovery of hand grenades also saw a massive increase last year, with a total of 309 grenades recovered compared to 19 in 2022. Additionally, the recovery of IEDs has been increasing year after year.
Last week, terrorists were found using American-made M4 carbine assault rifles during attacks in Kathua. Indian agencies suspect that these weapons, left behind by the US Army after their withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, have finally reached Kashmir and are now in the hands of terrorists targeting civilians and security personnel.
Last year, central Intelligence agencies also received a lead indicating that the logistics, arms, and ammunition used in the Poonch attack, which resulted in the deaths of five RR jawans, came from Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. The local police investigation into the Poonch attack also suspected that the bullets used in the attack were from Afghanistan, left by US forces post their exit.
In fact, on many occasions, security forces have found sophisticated weapons beyond just AK-47s. In December 2022, J&K police in the Jammu region seized a significant cache of arms and ammunition, including seven AK-47 rifles, one US-made M4 rifle, and three pistols, along with grenades. The J&K Police reported that four terrorists were seeking an opportunity for an encounter to target security forces.
Although data compiled by J&K Police shows a significant improvement in controlling terror activities and killing terrorists, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recently stated in Parliament: “A robust security and Intelligence grid is in place to thwart any attempt of terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. Further steps taken by the government to prevent terrorist incidents and to safeguard the lives of civilians in the valley include group security in the form of static guards, round-the-clock checking at strategic points, night patrolling and area domination, identification of vulnerable spots, and security arrangements through appropriate deployment of police, army, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and intensified Cordon and Search Operations.”
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