Representative image showing Jammu & Kashmir Police personnel.
Credit: PTI Photo
Srinagar: Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 civilians dead, infiltration attempts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir have reportedly surged.
The escalation in hostilities, triggered by India’s cross-border Operation Sindoor, has forced the Army and other security agencies to concentrate their efforts on potential large-scale conflict scenarios, inadvertently weakening the focus on counter-infiltration operations.
Intelligence inputs now indicate that a few dozen terrorists may have crossed into Indian territory in recent weeks. “Most of these infiltration attempts are aided by coordinated artillery fire from across the border, a tactic long used by Pakistan to divert attention and create cover for infiltrators,” an Army official said.
Despite a ceasefire understanding reached between India and Pakistan on May 10, infiltration attempts have continued. On May 8, the Border Security Force (BSF) foiled a major infiltration attempt in the Samba sector, killing seven heavily armed terrorists.
While the breach was detected early with the help of advanced surveillance systems, sources said that some infiltrators managed to slip through undetected—raising concerns about renewed militant presence in the hinterland.
The infiltration attempts were accompanied by frequent incidents of cross-border firing, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation. Security analysts believe the spike in infiltration is part of a broader strategy by Pakistan-based terror groups to exploit India’s diverted military focus.
“With the snow melting along the upper reaches of the LoC, more infiltration attempts are likely in the coming weeks,” another senior security official said. “Security agencies are now scrambling to reorient towards internal security, launch area-domination patrols, and plug gaps along the infiltration corridors.”
The Pahalgam massacre—one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in recent memory—has already pushed Indo-Pak relations to a new low. India’s strong military response through Operation Sindoor only deepened hostilities, prompting global calls for restraint amid fears of a larger conflict.
In the wake of these developments, the security grid across Jammu and Kashmir is being reinforced. Checkpoints have been tightened, surveillance intensified, and additional troops deployed in vulnerable districts. Search and cordon operations have been launched across multiple locations to flush out newly infiltrated militants and dismantle sleeper cells.
“Now that tensions at the border have somewhat eased, our forces are in a better position to focus on internal threats,” the official said. “The priority is to prevent any regrouping of infiltrators and preempt attacks in urban and rural areas alike.”