Intelligence Reports Say Terror Camps Hit by surgical strike in 2016 Active again Along LoC

Jammu and Kashmir: In a latest intelligence report published recently says that terror groups backed by Pakistan’s army were setting up eight new launch pads along the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) including those in Lipa Valley, one of the two strategic locations which was destroyed by the Indian Army during its surgical strikes in September 2016.

Approximately 250 terrorists are waiting to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir from 27 launch pads in PoK, top intelligence sources said.

Before Burhan Wani was killed (July 2016), there were only 14 functional launch pads in PoK with just 160 terrorists camping there. But soon after Wani’s elimination, an immediate rise in terror training activity was noted across the LoC. From just 160 terrorists, their number went up to around 190 to 230 terrorists with an addition of five more terror camps, making it 19, sources said.

Eight more have been added since Imran Khan's election as Prime Minister of Pakistan. Of the 27 terror launch pads which are operational, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) is concentrated in Lipa, Chakothi, Bararkot, Shardi, Jura and Bararkot areas while Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM)’s camps are set up in the Forward Kahuta area of PoK.

Reportedly, Pakistan has also re-established the launch pad at Lipa Valley, one of the two strategic locations where India had conducted a surgical strike in September 2016. However, the launch pad opposite the other surgical strike location, Bimbhar Gali, has not resurfaced.

"The strength at Hajipur and Forward Kahuta is now negligible," said a senior intelligence officer. The number of Lashkar-e-Toiba members who are preparing to enter India at Lipa, Chananian, Mandaukali and Naukot now stands at 25-30.

These camps stand right opposite India's Nowgam sector, which is between Uri and Kupwara. "Approximately 250 terrorists are waiting to infiltrate into India. The geographical importance of these infiltration points is the breathing time needed by these militants and the support from over ground workers in Handwara and Hafrooda forest cover. From there, their intent is to move to South Kashmir," said an intelligence officer.

Intelligence sleuths said that the recent surge in terror activities in Gurez, Jajarkotli, Sopore, and Bandipora in Kashmir is meant to destabilize the state ahead of panchayat elections and may escalate the tension between the two countries. Security forces are now planning to maintain a strong anti-infiltration posture along the LoC, an official source said. (SATP Inputs)