Understanding the Emergence of Terrorism in Jammu: A Shift in Focus from Kashmir Valley

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The recent spate of terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir has highlighted a concerning trend of terrorism shifting towards the Rajouri-Poonch area in the state. The attack on an Army convoy in Badnota village, 124 km from Kathua town in Jammu, resulting in the tragic death of five security personnel, is just one in a series of recent attacks in the region. Compared to the relatively terror-free two decades in the Kashmir Valley, Jammu has recently witnessed a spike in terror incidents.

June 2024 marked a surge in terror activities, with multiple attacks occurring in the region. From an attack on a bus ferrying pilgrims in the Reasi district, resulting in 10 fatalities and 33 injuries, to the killing of three terrorists during a gunfight in the Gandoh region of Doda district, the region has been witnessing an alarming increase in violent incidents.

Various factors are believed to contribute to this disturbing trend. With a considerable redeployment of troops to the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh following the 2020 standoff with China, there appears to be a gap in local intelligence in the region. Additionally, terrorist groups are utilizing modern and easily accessible technology to find new routes for sustaining insurgency.

Experts attribute the recent surge in terror activities in Jammu to a deliberate exploitation of the security void created by the heavy troop deployment in Ladakh amid the tensions with China. There is also a strategic effort to use the Jammu region as an ingress route into the Kashmir Valley. Furthermore, the role of Pakistan as a belligerent neighbor is strongly linked to the recent attacks in the region, reflecting a clear agenda to incite fear and unrest in Jammu.

The recent terror incidents in Jammu reflect a deteriorating security situation and have raised significant concerns. With upcoming polls scheduled in the Union Territory, there are fears that the terrorists, aided by external forces, will intensify efforts to disrupt the democratic processes. Additionally, experts suggest that the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 may have played a role in the increased terror incidents, with the attacks coinciding with the annual pilgrimage to Amarnath Shrine.

In conclusion, the escalating terrorism in Jammu represents a critical shift in focus from the traditional hotbed of violence in the Kashmir Valley. It underscores the urgent need for enhanced counter-terror measures and a reevaluation of security strategies in the region to mitigate the growing threat posed by anti-state actors and their external supporters.