Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 23

Inputs with Indian Intelligence agencies suggest around 60 trained militants have infiltrated from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir over the past two months.

There is a high possibility of three to four infiltration attempts within this week mostly along the Line of Control in north Kashmir — Keran, Uri and adjoining sectors, the inputs indicate.

An alert has been sounded due to the impending festival season that starts with Navaratras (from September 29) and ends two weeks after Diwali (October 27).

Over the past two months, infiltrations have taken place on both sides of the Pir Panjal mountain range that segregates the Valley from the Poonch-Jammu region, sources said.

Initial estimates of infiltrations were lower, however, the multi-agency centre (MAC), which collates data and inputs from human intelligence, radio intercepts and other sources, has arrived at a figure of 60 infiltrations over the past two months.

Sources said the number of these infiltrations indicates a major terror attack is being planned and the target could be on the Indian side along the 198 km of International Boundary in J&K. This runs south of the river Chenab river to the border of the state with Punjab at Madhopur.

Several military and Border Security Force (BSF) camps dot the Jammu region and all forwards posts have been on high alert. In the past two weeks, there have been violations of the ceasefire agreement and troops on either side have fired at each other.

Indian estimates say there are around 450-500 terrorists in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Off these, 250 are stationed at launch pads as well as camps along the LoC.

Estimates are that Pakistan may try and do something between the UN General Assembly in last week of September and the hearing of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) hearing scheduled later in October.

In the past one month, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been raising lot of ‘red flags’ about an attack.