Why the involvement of Kokernag is encouraging for security forces

The security establishment is viewing the Indian Army's engagement in Kokernag, South Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of two courageous soldiers last Saturday, positively, as it shows that there is a connection being made between actionable intelligence and the armed response of security forces.

According to intelligence reports, up to 35 Pakistani nationals, mostly from the Jaish-e-Mohammed faction, have crossed the international boundary into India near the Samba-Kathua area. Of them, about ten have moved into South Kashmir and the Kashmir Valley.

The younger brother of Masood Azhar, Rauf Asghar, is the operational head of the internationally recognized JeM terrorist cell, which is based in Bahawalpur, Pakistan. JeM terrorist Kashif Jan is responsible for launching the terrorists into J&K through Urjh Nullah on the Punjab-J&K border.

Due to the mountains and wooded areas, there are still gaps between actionable intelligence and armed response; nevertheless, the Indian Army is currently fully deployed in the Jammu region, and two battalions of the Assam Rifles are among the paramilitary troops being inducted at the time this report is being written. Staff members of the Assam Rifles have five decades of experience fighting counter-insurgencies in the northeast and are trained in forest-mountain warfare.

In order to stop terrorist infiltration from Pakistan and eliminate terrorists, security forces in Jammu and Kashmir must reevaluate their strategies and capabilities, even though the state police, IB, RA&W, and army must coordinate their counterterrorism operations. The weakening of forces as a result of the PLA's violation in East Ladakh in May 2020 is the reason why terrorism has become more prominent in the Jammu region.

Although the Modi administration chose to keep troops in Kashmir, personnel from Jammu were transferred to Ladakh since they were trained to operate in higher altitudes. It is simply a matter of time until Indian security forces receive intelligence against the militants, as evidenced by the present Kokernag operations.

The Indian Army increased its military numbers in Jammu.

In actuality, the Indian Army has raised force concentrations in Jammu in addition to the paramilitary forces' enhanced presence in the second tier of the counterterrorism grid. The commanders of the Northern Army, Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar, and 16 Corps, Lt Gen Navin Sachdeva, are all familiar with the terrain of the Rajouri-Poonch region and are prepared to confront the terrorists supported by Pakistan at any cost. The new chief of the Indian Army is Gen Upendra Dwivedi.

Although the security establishment remains silent over the ongoing CT operations, encouraging outcomes should be anticipated in the next few days as Home Minister Amit Shah has made it abundantly evident that J&K Police and intelligence services need to get their act together.