Experts predict a ‘hot winter’ in J&K

SRINAGAR:  It will be a ‘hot winter’ in Jammu and Kashmir this year, with militancy related violence only set to escalate after the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan as ‘battle-hardened’ terrorists vie to sneak into the Valley.

According to senior security expert and former J&K Police chief Kuldip Khoda, the Taliban are not moving towards Kashmir as of now since they are dealing with ISKP. “However, the fact is that fighters of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and other terror groups supporting the Taliban in the fight against the US army have come back to Pakistan. The only obvious choice for them is Kashmir,” he said.

He said Pakistan’s strategy is to raise the pitch of militancy in Kashmir. “Now that they are free from Afghanistan, their first task is to send a message that ‘outsiders’ will not be allowed to settle in Kashmir. That is why, there were targeted killings,” Khoda said, referring to the gunning down of five migrants in October. On nine soldiers being killed during the army operation that has been going on in Poonch for three weeks, he said it “can be a morale booster for militants”.

Khoda said the security agencies should be worried because the militants who are infiltrating now had been in Afghanistan for a long time fighting the US troops. “They are battle-hardened and better trained… There will be higher casualties on both sides as the operations against militants will increase,” Khoda said.

Asked whether he foresees a ‘hot winter’ this time, he said all indications are that the violence will go up. “Traditionally, violence level in winter is less because the mountain passes used for infiltration get closed due to snowfall. However, militants will try to focus on IB and LoC in Poonch and Rajouri.”