Pak8217;s winter discount

Name: Abu Masih; Nationality: Pakistani; Group: Lashkar-e-Toiba; Contract period: 3 months; Incentives: Recruitment as a Pakistani range...

Name: Abu Masih; Nationality: Pakistani; Group: Lashkar-e-Toiba; Contract period: 3 months; Incentives: Recruitment as a Pakistani ranger on completion of the 8220;assignment8221; in the Valley besides Rs 50,000 to his family.

Name: Sadiq Mohammad; Nationality: Pakistani; Group: Harkat-ul-Mujaideen besides being a Pakistani Army jawan; Contract period: 3 months; Incentives: Better promotional chances in the Pakistani Army and Rs 50,000 for the family.

Name: Tasaduq Hussain; Nationality: Pakistani; Group: Lashkar-e-Toiba; Contract period: 3 months; Incentives: Remission of the death sentence awarded to him in Pakistan for his criminal activities.

As the security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir gear up to snatch the initiative from militant outfits in the coming three months of winter, Pakistan8217;s Inter-Service Intelligence ISI is turning more and more to men hired on short contracts.

Not only mercenaries trained specifically for 8220;jehad8221; but also regular members of the Pakistani Armyand even criminals are being pushed in to sustain militant activities during the winter. Officials sources fear this might mean that the edge they generally enjoy over ultras during these months, when snow closes the mountain passes, would be diluted.

Mercenaries are being sent in on contract specifically for the three months of December, January and February, and being offered incentives much more lucrative then those given under conventional contracts. Says a police officer: 8220;Generally, what happens is that the mercenary is sent on a year8217;s contract, which is later extended, and offered about Rs 1 lakh annually besides other incentives linked to killing of senior security forces officials.8221; But these special winter contracts ensure shorter stints in the Valley at much better 8220;emoluments8221;.

Earlier, during the winter, the ISI used to rely heavily on local militants to carry out intermittent attacks on security forces. However, with many local ultras giving a cold shoulder to mercenary-based outfitslike the Lashkar-e-Toiba and Harkat-ul-Mujaideen, Pakistan has had to turn to these short-term mercenaries. An officer says local militants are also not too keen on carrying out the 8220;jehad8221; all by themselves during these three months.

So now, criminals who have been awarded death or life imprisonment in Pakistan are being lured with the offer of remission of sentences. In exchange for that, they have to enter into winter contracts with the agency and cross over into Jammu and Kashmir.

8220;It is a good proposition for the criminal,8221; points out Director General of Police Gurbachan Jagat. 8220;He knows that in any case he has to die as he has been awarded the death sentence8230;If he manages to return after completing the assignment, he gets a new lease of life.8221;

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Not only is Pakistan sending these militants, it is also sneaking in Armymen through the Poonch-Rajouri belt to monitor militant activity during the winter. This was revealed when security forces killed a Pakistani Army official in Udhampurdistrict. 8220;It is imperative for the ISI to have trustworthy men to monitor the situation during this period. And who would be better than Pakistani Armymen themselves?8221; says Jagat.

To ensure that the mercenaries still don8217;t stay away, they are being provided better infrastructural facilities to make their stay in the upper reaches comfortable during the harsh cold. The seizures made by the police of late reportedly include warm clothing including fur jackets and sophisticated tents which provide warm shelter.

Officials say the militant outfits are also roping in women, especially in the Poonch area, to satisfy the physical needs of the men. Sources say some recent arrests were made by tapping these 8220;contacts8221;.

Pakistan8217;s latest strategy is worrying for security forces as traditionally, during the winter season, ultras keep a low profile in Jammu and Kashmir. 8220;Besides, before the passes close for winter, the mercenaries are eager to go back fearing that the security forces would nail them down,8221;says an officer in the Special Operations Group.

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That the plan has already been kicked off is evident from the fact that incidents of mercenaries sneaking in are still being reported along the Line of Control. 8220;During this part of the year,8221; says an Army officer, 8220;the mercenary influx used to go down, but this time the attempts are continuing.8221; However, he claims they have been able to thwart most such bids.

Even if that is so, the battle has only just begun. If the plan is successful this time, point out officials, they may be looking at many such winters ahead.