Less than 10 days into his tenure as the Chief of the Indian Army, General Upendra Dwivedi is already grappling with escalating terror activities in southern Jammu. The army has faced six fatal casualties and five non-fatal injuries, highlighting the immediate challenges in managing the rising violence. This situation demands significant attention from the new army chief, especially with the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections and the ongoing monitoring of China’s military buildup across the Line of Actual Control. Pakistan, with its army and affiliated terror groups continues to complicate the security landscape. For General Dwivedi, who previously commanded the critical and active Northern Command, this scenario likely aligns with his expectations and prior experience.
Jammu: A terror hub in the making?
Is the tranquility in the valley being achieved at the expense of increased unrest in the plains? Since the abrogation of Article 370 in October 2019, the Kashmir Valley has experienced a gradual shift towards peace and prosperity. However, the Jammu region has witnessed a surge in terror activities over the past four years. This week alone, within 48 hours, there were two terror attacks targeting the army in Jammu. On Monday, five soldiers succumbed to injuries after militants ambushed an army vehicle in the mountainous Machedi area of Kathua district, also wounding five others. Earlier on Sunday, a soldier was injured when militants opened fire on an army camp in Galuthi village, Manjakote, in Rajouri, before escaping.
However, it is important to note that the Kashmir Valley is not entirely free from sporadic acts of terrorism. On Saturday, two soldiers were killed in twin encounters in the Kulgam district. During these clashes, security forces successfully neutralised at least six terrorists. The incidents took place in the villages of Modergam and Chinigam, with two terrorists killed in Modergam and the remaining four in Chinigam. Despite the overall trend towards peace, these events reflect the persistent threat of terrorism in the region.
The Jammu region in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir consists of 10 districts: Jammu, Doda, Kathua, Ramban, Reasi, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri, Udhampur and Samba. The landscape is primarily characterised by rugged hills and mountains, encompassing the Pir Panjal Range that acts as a natural boundary with the Kashmir Valley, as well as sections of the Great Himalayas, found in the eastern districts of Doda and Kishtwar.
In recent years, the 9 Corps headquartered at Yol, Himachal Pradesh, responsible for overseeing the Jammu-based 26th Infantry Division of the Indian Army, has increasingly found itself embroiled in counter-terrorism operations. This Corps operates under the administrative umbrella of the Western Command based in Chandimandir marking a significant deployment of military resources beyond the Northern Command. This dual role underscores India’s strategic challenge: while facing escalating cooperation between Chinese and Pakistani military forces, it must manage the same security assets to safeguard both its borders and internal stability. This places considerable strain on military capabilities demanding a delicate balance between external threats and domestic security imperatives.
Uptick in terror
Only last month, Jammu and Kashmir experienced a surge in terror activities with four attacks occurring over three days, three of which happened within a single day.
In June this year, militants targeted a bus carrying pilgrims leading to the deaths of at least nine individuals and injuring 33 others. On April 24, unidentified militants killed Mohammad Razaq, a 40-year-old government employee from the social welfare department, in Rajouri district. Meanwhile, in a separate incident in Udhampur district, village Defence Guard member Mohd Sharief died during a gunfight in a remote village. Then a terror attack resulted in the death of CRPF constable Kabir Dass during a counter-insurgency mission near Heeranagar in Kathua. Additionally, five Indian Army troopers were injured in an assault on a joint post in the Doda district.
In May, a soldier was killed and four others injured when militants ambushed an Indian Air Force convoy in Poonch district. According to an Economic Times report, which referenced home ministry data, 35 civilians died in actions or encounters initiated by security forces, in contrast to 174 civilian deaths due to terrorist incidents from 2018 to 2022. The increasing casualties among security personnel have become a significant concern for the government.
The signs of escalating terror activity became evident in February 2021 when the police discovered sticky bombs in the Ramgarh sector of Samba district. This incident was soon followed by the dropping of two IEDs by drones at the Air Force Station in Jammu on June 27 of the same year.
Rising military casualties
Over the past three years, the Jammu region has been plagued by a series of severe terror incidents, each leaving a lasting impact on security forces and civilians alike. Beginning in October 2021, the region saw multiple deadly encounters and attacks on army personnel in areas like Surankote and Mendhar sub-divisions of Poonch district. These early incidents set a grim tone for subsequent years.
In August 2022, an audacious attack on an Army camp at Pargal in Rajouri resulted in the tragic loss of five army soldiers. This event highlighted the vulnerability of military installations despite heightened security measures.
The year 2023 witnessed a significant escalation in violence. The situation further deteriorated in April and May 2023, with the deaths of ten soldiers—five in Poonch and five in Rajouri—raising significant concerns within the security forces. In December 2023, the intensity of the violence was revealed when at least four army personnel were killed and three others injured in a terrorist attack on military vehicles in the Rajouri sector. The terrorists ambushed the vehicles as troops were enroute to an operational site in the Dera Ki Gali area, Thanamandi. This assault followed a major gunfight in November 2023 in the Dharmshal belt of the Bajimaal forest area in Rajouri district, which resulted in the deaths of five army personnel, including two captains.
In May 2023, an IED blast at Kandi in Rajouri claimed the lives of five army paracommandos and left a Major injured showcasing the lethal tactics employed by militants. The same year, a horrifying attack on civilians of a minority community at Dhangri village in Rajouri resulted in the deaths of seven individuals including two minors due to firing and an IED blast perpetrated by foreign terrorists.
The year 2024 brought no respite as the attacks continued unabated. In January, terrorists struck again, targeting a Social Welfare Department official at Shahdara Sharief in Rajouri leaving him dead and underscoring the personal risks faced by individuals involved in public service. Subsequent incidents, such as the ambush on an IAF convoy in Surankote and a brutal attack on pilgrims in Teryath, Reasi, further added to the toll of civilian casualties and highlighted the indiscriminate nature of the violence.
Throughout these years, the persistence of groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed has posed a formidable challenge to security forces perpetuating a cycle of violence and fear in the region. The incidents highlight the ongoing security threats and the complex dynamics of counter-terrorism efforts in Jammu where both military personnel and civilians live under constant threat from terror activities.
Since October 2021, the Jammu region has been marred by a relentless series of terror attacks, claiming the lives of 43 brave individuals.
Treachery of terrain
The inhospitable terrain of the region only compounds the challenges for the security forces. Areas like Bhimber Gali and Dera Ki Gali in the Jammu region are considered particularly dangerous for security forces due to geographical, tactical and environmental challenges. These regions are marked by rugged terrain including dense forests and mountainous landscapes, which complicate movement and logistics for security operations.
The Bhimber Gali-Surankote road is a high-risk area for military vehicles to operate as defending an ambush is extremely difficult in such hostile terrain.
Their proximity to the Line of Control (LoC) makes them hotspots for terrorist infiltration attempts, which often use the terrain for cover, making detection and interception difficult. Additionally, the dense vegetation and rugged landscapes hinder surveillance and monitoring efforts reducing the effectiveness of patrolling and increasing the risk of ambushes.
Harsh weather conditions further exacerbate the difficulties impacting mobility, communication and operational efficiency. Moreover, militants in these areas frequently have local support and leverage guerrilla tactics, employing hit-and-run strategies that are challenging for conventional forces to counter. The strategic significance of these locations also means they are focal points for military activity, raising the stakes and risks for skirmishes and conflicts.
Again, the Pir Panjal Range spans several districts in the Jammu region. The key districts influenced by this mountainous range include Poonch and Rajouri, both characterised by their rugged terrain and situated along the LoC. Udhampur, while having varied terrain, also encompasses parts of the Pir Panjal Range, with its foothills and mountains contributing to the region’s challenging landscape. Additionally, Reasi, known for its hilly terrain, is another district where the influence of the Pir Panjal Range is significant.
The Pir Panjal Range significantly affects counterinsurgency operations due to its challenging geographical features. Characterised by rugged terrain, steep slopes, dense forests and narrow valleys, the range makes movement and logistics for security forces extremely difficult, complicating patrols, surveillance and troop deployment. Additionally, the terrorists benefit from their local knowledge of the terrain, including trails, hideouts and escape routes, which, combined with local support, enhances their ability to operate clandestinely.
The challenging terrain also limits the effectiveness of surveillance technologies and aerial reconnaissance reducing the ability to monitor insurgent movements and gather intelligence. Strategically, the Pir Panjal Range forms a natural barrier, crucial for controlling movement between different regions of Jammu and Kashmir, making its control essential for preventing infiltration across the LoC.
‘Alert’ terrorists
Terror groups have become highly cautious, deliberately avoiding any digital or airwave footprint to obscure their locations from security forces. They meticulously avoid using communication equipment that could reveal their whereabouts complicating the task for security personnel. Additionally, the dearth of human intelligence has significantly undermined military operations.
In January of this year, former Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande acknowledged the absence of human intelligence as a critical factor hindering the force’s anti-terror operations in the Rajouri-Poonch area of the Jammu region.
In addition to that the severe escalation of border tensions with China in 2020 prompted the government to deploy a significantly larger number of troops along the Line of Actual Control leading to the withdrawal of forces from the Poonch, Rajouri and Reasi districts in the Jammu division. This reduction in troop strength allowed terrorists to revive their activities in the Rajouri-Poonch area, taking advantage of the thinner concentration of security forces.
Navigating immediate crises
General Dwivedi’s tenure begins under intense pressure from rising terror activities in Jammu. His leadership will be pivotal in addressing the immediate security threats while also focussing on the broader strategic goals of the Indian Army. Successfully mitigating the current violence and enhancing long-term preparedness will require a delicate balance of tactical response and strategic foresight, defining his legacy as the new army chief.
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