Investigations into these attacks have confirmed that each of them had linkages to the Kashmiri jihad in terms of human and logistics support. This shift in the pattern of violence from J&K to other locations offers Pakistan greater'deniability', and also enables it to harness the grievances--real or perceived--among the Indian Muslims. Such a shift in strategy constitutes no radical departure, or even nuanced reorientation, of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI)/jihadi agenda. It lies "entirely within the paradigm that has been sustained since the Zia-ul-Haq regime, and has progressively translated itself into the Islamist fundamentalist and terrorist movements in the region."
In J&K, SF operations have seen extraordinary successes in targeting the terrorist leadership. During 2007,87 terrorist leaders were neutralised. Among the terrorist groups, the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) was the worst hit. In 2007, 34 of its leaders, including two'divisional commanders', five 'district commanders', eight 'commanders', four 'battalioncommanders', and three 'A category commanders', were killed across thestate, along with 307 HM militants. 22 leaders of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) including, four'divisional commanders', five 'district commanders', five 'commanders', two 'areacommanders', a 'chief operations commander', and two 'section commanders', were killed by the SFs in 2007. The year also saw 18 Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) leaders, including one'divisional commander', four 'district commanders', six 'commanders', and four 'battalioncommanders', neutralised by SFs. Six 'commander' rank jihadis from the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM), three each from the Al Badr Mujahideen and the Harkat-ul-Jehad-al-Islami (HuJI), and one from the Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen (JuM) were also killed in 2007.
The top militants killed in 2007 included Bilal Afghani aka Chhotta Bilal, 'chiefcommander' of the Al Badr Mujahideen, on December 3, in Budgam; followed by Qari Umar('deputy chief' of HuJI for J&K) on November 12 in Baramulla; Abu Hamza ('chief operationscommander' of the JuM) on October 11 in Baramulla; Qasim Bhatti ('chief operationscommander' of the LeT) on October 4 in Bandipora; Mohammed Shafi aka Nasir-ul-Islam (HM'divisional commander') on September 26 in Doda; Aijaz Ahmed Chopan ('chief operationscommander' of HM) on August 26 in Ramban; Abu Talah aka Taib ('operationscommander' of LeT in the Jammu region) on August 8 in Kupwara; Mohammed Abid Hussain Basra aka Zargam (HM'divisional commander') on August 1 in Doda; Mohammad Younis ('commander-in-chief', HM Pir Panjal Regiment) on March 1 in Rajouri; Mohammed Khalid-ur-Rehman(LeT's 'India Commander') on July 18 in Doda; and Noor Mohammad aka Ansari ('divisionalcommander' of HuM) on January 20 in Doda. These fatalities continued a trend established over the previous years, with at least 101 terrorist leaders killed in 2006, adding to 125 killed in 2005. The HM has lost 179'commanders' at various levels since 2003; the LeT, 123; and JeM, 64. The tremendous rate of attrition at the leadership levels has made it difficult for the various terrorist groups to find replacements for their field commanders.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 15 Corps in Kashmir valley, Lt Gen A. S.Sekhon, stated on November 1, 2007, that there were 1,500 militants operating in thestate, including 700 to 800, in the Kashmir Valley. Earlier, the GOC 16 Corps of the Northern Army Command, Lt. Gen. T. K. Sapru, had disclosed, on August 23, 2007, that nearly 200 Pakistan-trained militants had crossed over to the Indian side of the LoC in the preceding six months, while at least 400 militants, including a large number of foreigners, were operating in the Jammu region. Sapru added, further, that the proportion of foreign terrorists operating on the Indian side was just below 50 per cent, compared to the locals.
Infiltration into J&K during 2007 may have dropped marginally in comparison to the preceding two years. According to Sriprakash Jaiswal, Union Minister ofstate for Home, there were an estimated 499 cases of infiltration in 2007 (till October), whereas in 2005 and 2006, the figure was 597 and 573 respectively. Jaiswal disclosed further, on November 27, 2007, that these figures pertained to those militants who had been apprehended or killed while crossing the LoC/borders.
A.K. Mitra, Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF), on November 30, 2007, noted that, "A shift in the pattern of infiltration has been observed since 2005... the terror outfits infiltrate in large numbers across the international borders in order to succeed even after encounters with the Security Forces". He indicated that the risk involved in cutting the fence and making an entry point for a small group was the same as with larger groups. Due to the increased risk involved in crossing the borders, militants have tried unconventional methods and high-tech equipment for infiltration. Mitra disclosed that, "Though infiltration numerically has come down as compared to 2006, nevertheless the middle- or lower-level cadres continue to infiltrate through Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir." Official sources also said that, as infiltration attempts are more frequently foiled across the LoC, militants are increasingly using ingress routes via Nepal. Moreover, with the troops more effectively securing the conventional infiltration routes, the militants have reportedly changed tactics and now try to infiltrate through the "not-so-common" routes primarily in the hilly areas of the border Districts of Poonch (Mendhar, Balnoi, Balakote, Krishnaghati) and Rajouri (Bhimber Gali, KangaGali, Nowshera).
The Pakistan Army has also reportedly developed a new kind of "floating air pillow" for ingress via newly developed infiltration routes through rivers along the LoC and International Border in the Jammu sector. The "air pillows" were said to have been successfully used by a group of five militants to infiltrate into Indian territory from Munawar Tawi along Sunderbani-Khour sector on the Rajouri-Jammu border in November 2007.
The new ranks of militants in J&K are "more lethal, motivated and well qualified, who dare to seek direct contact with security forces", according to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Though fewer in number, the militants are now using new ways and means to sustain their operations not only in thestate but across the Indian heartland. Deputy Inspector General (Ops) of CRPF, N. C. Nathanael, disclosed in Srinagar, on November 29, 2007, in his presentation on 'New Formats of Militancy and Violence in the Valley', that the militants now had a higher striking capability: "There are now long fire stand offs and frequent IED attacks… They (militants) try to work with low risk and high gains. Earlier, we used to search them but now they come pro-actively and strike." He added, further, "we have also seen single cell operations in which only one person operates and that way when the person is caught or the operation is successful no evidence is left." Militants are also attempting to harness advantages accruing from modern technology. According to Nathanael, "They have online terror training through which they try to motivate more and more youth. Besides, they use e-mails, SMS and mobiles for information and operation purposes. Earlier we could intercept the e-mails through servers, but now they are operating through a single mail address at two different places. They pass the password in a code message and use the same account which makes it difficult to intercept."
Nevertheless, the unstable domestic scenario in Pakistan has had an impact on the Kashmir jihad, though it has not led to any change in the intent or the infrastructure that orchestrates violence. There is, nonetheless, a definite pause. The momentary waning in intensity has led to some confusion within the jihadi rank and file. For instance, radio messages and phone calls across the LoC indicated that militants, preparing for a winter stay in the Kashmir Valley, were a worried lot with the declaration of the Emergency in Pakistan. Communication intercepts by Indian intelligence agencies brought out the "uncertainty and confusion" among militants who rely heavily on logistical support from their handlers in Pakistan. Their immediate anxiety, during that particular period, was whether the supply lines would continue. Intelligence officials disclosed, "The militants are currently in astate of confusion about the developments across the border. Even their handlers are not clear how things will shape in the future."
Within J&K, Islamabad is also endeavouring to raise a united political voice in its favour. To this end, it is attempting to engineer unity among various pro-Pakistan groups, including the two factions of the main secessionist formation, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC). The objective appears to be to gradually transform the predominantly terrorist movement into a more wide-based movement of political extremism, backed by calibrated terrorist operations, to secure a stronger position at the negotiating table and achieve what has not been possible on the ground through terrorism alone.
Even as the troops continue to engage the terrorists, Indian Army sources claim that, with the increasing turmoil in Pakistan,'sleeper' terrorist cells in J&K have been progressively activated and there is a possibility of a gradual upsurge in violence over the coming months. Intelligence sources suggest that militant groups could raise the stakes in an election year in J&K.
The proximity of elections has also brought enormous political pressure to bear on the populist issue of a troop cut in thestate, but the Army insists that the situation is far from conducive to such a measure. Indeed, the ratio of troops in J&K is far below the troops-civilian ratio in violence-afflicted Waziristan in Pakistan or even in Chinese occupied Tibet. The J&K Governor, Lt. Gen. (Retd) S K Sinha, noted, on January 25, 2008, the eve of Republic Day, that "The ratio of deployment of troops, Army and paramilitary, to population in the region, excluding militancy-free Ladakh, is 1:40. This is less than 1:37 in Waziristan and 1:28 in Tibet."
Though violence levels are down and there is a perceptible improvement in normal life patterns in thestate, there is no compelling rationale for a lowering of guard. Grave risks also loom large in the future: "if Western attention is diverted from the region, or if the Islamists in Pakistan are able to carve out autonomous capacities and regions, free of their dependence on thestate's covert agencies, or if there is a radical escalation in the 'global jihad' in the wake of the proposed US withdrawal from Iraq in the foreseeable future, the developments in Kashmir could once again find thestate unprepared as the situation spirals out of control."
The gains of 2007 cannot be allowed to lead to complacency. Pakistan's intentions remain unchanged; its terrorist reserves are intact; Islamist terrorist groups have established some autonomous capacities for operation, independent of Pakistanistate agencies; and the South Asia and wider Asian region teeters on the brink of spiralling instability. In the long war against Islamist terrorism, the partial relief in J&K could well prove the calm before a rising storm.