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Shift in Terror Routes: Jammu and Kashmir Witnesses Surge in Drug Activity, Punjab Border Used for Arms and Infiltration

Sheikhzada Daniyal
Sheikhzada Daniyal
3 Min Read
Pakistan is sponsoring drugs and arming inside Punjab and Kashmir valley.

A recent analysis and presentation during a high-level meeting in Delhi this month revealed a disturbing trend in Jammu and Kashmir, where drug cases have been on the rise, while Punjab has emerged as a key route for supplying arms and ammunition. Moreover, infiltration from the Pakistan side is now being reported from Punjab borders, indicating a shift in the supply and entry routes used by terrorist outfits backed by Pakistani forces.

According to a top-level official, Jammu and Kashmir has consistently noticed an increase in drug-related cases, with a significant rise in figures since 2021. Official data from the Jammu and Kashmir police reveals that 2,400 cases were registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act last year, compared to 1,659 cases in 2022. This surge in drug cases is attributed to Pakistan’s tactics of sending drugs through the Indo-Pak border in J&K. Earlier, Punjab was the preferred route, where local criminals assisted drug peddlers in supplying drugs from Pakistan. However, it is suspected that the attack strategy has changed, and the supply routes have also shifted.

On the other hand, Punjab’s borders are being utilized to supply arms and ammunition. Central agencies have noted that terrorists are now suspected of infiltrating from Punjab borders, although major infiltration still occurs from the J&K side. Intelligence agencies strongly suspect that a few terrorists involved in recent attacks in the Jammu area had entered from the International Border in Punjab. In July, DGP J&K RR Swain also indicated a change in routes, stating, “Some infiltration is taking place through the borderline in Punjab, which is widely known. We have been discussing among ourselves the new methods and modus operandi they are adopting.”

During the meeting, effective measures to detect and counter tunnels on the borders were also discussed. Intelligence agencies suspect that tunnels may be used for infiltration, and operations are underway to trace them. This year, the BSF and Punjab Police have recovered Austrian Glock pistols, AK-47s, Chinese-made weapons, and ammunition from the international borders. The BSF is also regularly shooting down drones carrying drugs and arms, indicating a rise in the use of technology by terrorist outfits to smuggle arms and drugs.

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