The security establishment in Kashmir has said the relative calm witnessed in the state over the past six months is not for real but a calibrated move by the militants to regroup and intensify their assaults in the days to come.“It is only a matter of time before the bubble will burst and violence will regain momentum,” Deputy Inspector General of BSF (G Branch) at New Delhi Headquarters K Srinivasan told The Indian Express. Srinivasan said the relative drop in militant violence in the recent past and the by-and-large peaceful winter was a part of the strategy rather than any dent in militant strength. “Our pressure also has a role, but militants are holding back with a purpose”. More than any fresh infiltration, Srinivasan, who was earlier DIG of BSF’s G Branch in Kashmir, is wary of an estimated 1,000 militants already present in the Valley. “They are building a firm base of overground workers to expand their (militants) reach,” he said. According to him, Islamabad is exploring fresh sectors in Kashmir and even in Punjab and Rajasthan for infiltration. “There have been two counts of infiltration into India outside J-K in the past one year — one each in Rajasthan and Punjab — with 5 infiltrators being gunned down by us last September.There have been several infilteration attempts recently along the Jammu border with the latest taking place on June 24 along the LoC. Three militants were killed in Gwalta in Uri sector while trying to infiltrate into the Indian territory and five were killed in an encounter at Kupwara last Sunday.The heightened Pak defence activity across the LoC and some portion along the International Border in the state is causing serious concerns to the security establishment, with many seeing this “offensive posture” as a build up for a major influx of the militants into the state or a preparation for some “fresh misadventure”. In the three years of the ceasefire, Pakistan has built 70 new bunkers, 55 observatory towers and constructed around 30 posts. And most of this activity is taking place in Jammu where about 40 bunkers and 45 observatory towers have been built. “Their defence activity has intensified recently which is causing concern at a time when the peace process is on between the two countries,” Srinivasan said, adding the BSF has sensitised the Government about the development and also conveyed its objection to the Pakistan Rangers in their quarterly and biannual meetings. “But they (Rangers) hurl counter charges at us while getting on with the activity,” he said.
