(Image source from: Kashmirpatriot.com)

Every day, about 120 anti-terror missions are happening in the Jammu area, highlighting the ongoing terror threat and security issues in a place that was once safe from such violence just a few years back. Authorities state that the existence of foreign terrorists in Jammu is creating significant security problems. Operations to tackle terrorism are being conducted on an extraordinary scale to address the emerging threat. "We carry out 120 anti-terror missions daily in the Jammu zone. This is now part of our routine, whether they are general operations or specific ones based on intelligence. This has been ongoing without pause," said Bhim Sen Tuti, the police leader in Jammu. Tuti expressed confidence that through persistent efforts, security forces will soon eliminate these foreign terrorists hiding in the higher areas of Jammu. "Foreign terrorists have emerged as a major issue in the past two years. We are reinforcing our counter-terrorism measures and improving border security," he mentioned.

The Jammu area has been under the threat of terrorism for the past four years. Numerous foreign terrorists, skilled in guerrilla tactics, are said to be well entrenched in various forested regions. These militants have been linked to multiple assaults on both military personnel and civilians. After nearly every attack, they have successfully evaded capture. Major attacks in Jammu began in October 2021, when terrorists supported by Pakistan ambushed army soldiers in the Surankote region of Poonch district. Since that time, a series of assaults on the army and civilians have occurred. Many Hindus and Mata Vaishno Yatris were killed in terrorist actions during this time. Terrorists equipped with advanced weapons, including the US-made M4 carbine and sophisticated communication tools, have created serious security issues in the area.

Despite the deployment of many troops across different regions of Jammu, there has been limited success in rooting out terrorists hiding in tough mountainous areas and dense forests. Officials report that residents frequently alert them about suspicious activity in various parts of Jammu. Security forces respond quickly to these reports. However, despite the extensive operations, the terrorists continue to evade capture. Experts in counter-insurgency note that such a large number of anti-terror operations signals not only the security difficulties in the region but also highlights the lack of solid intelligence. With 120 operations each day, security forces are effectively managing 3,600 counter-terror missions in a month and around 44,000 in a year. Until 2021, the Jammu area had been nearly free from terrorism, with anti-terror focus primarily in the Kashmir Valley. While issues persist in the valley, especially following the horrifying Pahalgam attack in April, terrorists seem to have relocated or expanded their operations into the mountains of Jammu.