Indian Army Chief.
The Indian Army Chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, arrived in Jammu on Saturday to review the security situation in the Jammu and Kashmir region. This visit is significant due to the recent surge in terror activities in the Jammu region, which has been notably peaceful until recently. This is General Dwivedi’s second visit to Jammu since he took over the post on June 30th, and it follows two terror attacks that claimed the lives of nine army personnel, including a captain. The attacks occurred in the remote forest areas of Machedi in Katwa and Desa forest in Doda on July 8 and July 15.
High-Level Security Meeting.
General Dwivedi is set to chair a high-level security review meeting at the police headquarters in Jammu. The meeting will be attended by top officers from the police, the army, the paramilitary forces, and intelligence agencies. Over the past five months, intelligence agencies have reported the presence of highly trained terrorists armed with the latest weaponry in the Jammu region. These terrorists are believed to have fought in troubled spots like Afghanistan and other conflict zones.
Shift in Terrorist Strategy.
Until three years ago, the Kashmir Valley had been the epicenter of terrorist attacks. However, there has been a strategic shift, with terrorists now targeting Jammu. In the last three years, 109 terror incidents have taken place in Jammu and Kashmir, with 53% of them occurring in the hills of Jammu. Since June 2021, 51 security personnel have lost their lives in the Union Territory. The terrorists are focusing their attacks on security forces in Poonch, Rajouri, Kathua, Reasi, Doda, and Udhampur districts.
Recent Terror Attacks in Jammu.
In 2024, Jammu experienced 14 terror attacks, resulting in the deaths of 13 security personnel. Sources and security forces report that around 25 to 30 foreign terrorists are active in the Doda-Chenab Valley belt, with a similar number active in the Poonch-Rajouri belt, operating in small groups. These terrorists frequently shift their areas of operation to carry out attacks and ambushes.
Army Chief’s Security Review.
Special correspondent Idhree Sloan reports that General Upendra Dwivedi is on a visit to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, where he held a top-level security review meeting with officials from the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Indian Army. This visit comes after multiple attacks in the Jammu region in recent months, especially in areas like Doda, Poonch, Rajouri, and Kathua. Security forces have faced significant challenges in these attacks and are now adopting a new strategy to counter the shifting focus of militant activities from Kashmir Valley to Jammu.
Infiltration and Foreign Militants.
The Army Chief will also review the security situation across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly at the borders where foreign militants have recently infiltrated into the Kashmir territory. The Jammu and Kashmir police have reported that there are around 70 to 80 foreign militants present in the Union Territory, most of them in the Jammu region, and they are responsible for the recent attacks taking place across Jammu.