CEASEFIRE WITH PAKISTAN NO BARRIER TO SINO-PAK ACTIVITY ON TERROR

The Jammu and Kashmir Police has come under scrutiny for not providing the intelligence expected.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

The death of more than 50 security personnel in Jammu since August 2021 has brought into focus one of the most important parts of counter-terror operations: the generation of credible intelligence. Need has become urgent following the spike in terror operations masterminded by the Sino-Pakistan axis to disrupt life and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir, and to create addiction and violence in Punjab and elsewhere through smuggling of narcotics.

The Sunday Guardian spoke to multiple stakeholders who are, in one way or other, part of the efforts to eradicate terrorism from J&K. One key issue that emerged from these interactions was the lack of solid and workable intelligence, which has led to security personnel being caught in ambushes by terrorists rather than the other way around.

Sources said the majority of the deaths suffered by Indian officers and soldiers would not have happened if the relevant intelligence agencies had at least predicted what the terrorists were planning to do, even if not when and where.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police, specifically its ability to generate much stronger intelligence than its counterparts given its local presence, has come under scrutiny for not providing the intelligence expected, both quantitatively and qualitatively, to the central forces. This has resulted in at least ten ambushes by terrorists since the abovementioned period.