Militants in Jammu and Kashmir equipped with sophisticated Alpine Quest app to evade detections

Srinagar: With security agencies succeeding in dismantling over-ground workers (OGWs) networks in recent years, Pakistan’s army has reportedly provided terrorists with the Alpine Quest app in its offline version, allowing them to navigate and plan operations independently in remote and rugged terrains of Jammu and Kashmir

Alpine Quest, a mapping and navigation application, is typically used by trekkers and outdoor enthusiasts. But its offline capabilities have reportedly made it an invaluable tool for militants operating in remote and rugged terrains

The app allows users to navigate difficult landscapes without relying on digital connectivity, which makes it particularly useful for militants evading security forces and staying hidden from surveillance.

The app’s encryption features make it challenging for security agencies to intercept or decode communications in real time, sources said. This has given terrorists a technological edge, as they can now operate autonomously in areas where traditional support networks, including OGWs, are less effective.

“After the security forces dismantled much of the OGW network, including through property seizures and cases under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), the Pakistan Army has found ways to assist the terrorists in overcoming the lack of OGW support,” they said.

The police categorise “anybody who supports the militants” as an OGW. A person providing a safe house, passage, information, or acting as a messenger for militants automatically comes under the radar of the police as an OGW.

With the crackdown reducing OGW activity, the shift to using the Alpine Quest app allows militants to bypass traditional human support and operate more independently.

A senior police officer said that the use of the app marks a significant tactical shift. “This new method of coordination adds to the already complex challenge of countering cross-border terrorism. The increasing reliance on technology signals a more sophisticated level of terrorist operations, replacing older methods of support,” the officer said.

The officer also revealed that, in remote areas and rugged terrains, terrorists have started avoiding OGWs altogether, fearing that their location might be leaked to security forces. “They now instruct OGWs to drop supplies at specific spots, only picking them up once the OGWs have left. This is done to prevent their exact location from being compromised,” the officer added.