The recent terror attack in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, where head constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi was killed, has raised worries about a potential resurgence of militancy in the region. Following the Pahalgam attack last year, security forces had managed to keep terrorist groups at bay, thwarting several planned attacks. However, the tragic incident in Anantnag has prompted security and intelligence agencies to ramp up operations to prevent the reemergence of terrorism in the area.
The attack, claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), has led to a significant crackdown as intelligence reports suggest a growing network aiming to revive both terrorism and separatism in Jammu and Kashmir. This network reportedly includes former militants, overground workers, separatist elements, and stone pelters, all allegedly working to rebuild the terror infrastructure in the Valley. While there was a period of relative calm in terrorist activities, elements backed by the Inter Services Intelligence have been quietly reestablishing their networks with the intention of carrying out smaller attacks.
Security agencies have detained over 2,500 individuals across Kashmir, with major crackdowns in Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian, and Anantnag. The focus remains on dismantling the overground worker network and addressing separatist elements, which are seen as influential in radicalizing youth with anti-India sentiments. The aim is to counter efforts by Pakistan’s ISI to recruit local youth and bolster groups like TRF, projecting them as indigenous militants to mask cross-border involvement in terrorist activities.
