Pahalgam terrorists are no Burhan Wani: Inside story of Pakistan's 'real guerrilla warfare' in Kashmir forests

Armed to the teeth, well-trained in jungle warfare, and equipped with sophisticated communication gadgets, the terrorists behind the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack have managed to remain inside the dense forests of South Kashmir for last eight days.

The Indian security forces feel that there is a high probability of one or more Pakistani Army regulars to be part of the group that has remained elusive amid the intense manhunt carried out by forces from the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police, an Indian Express report said on Thursday.

One of the striking aspects of the Pahalgam terrorists’ profile is the ability to remain out of sight and live in the forests without any human communication at a stretch. The IE report citing the Indian security forces say that the new breed of terrorists has been present in the jungles of South Kashmir for last four years or so.

This is vastly different from the 2015 era of terrorism in Kashmir when the likes of Burhan Wani dominated the headlines with their photos going viral in the social media. Back then, Wani and his associates use to brandish guns to provoke the youth. But with little training and very visible presence, they were easy to locate by the forces.

A senior official told the Indian Express that in his experience of last 30 years, this was the first time that the forces were facing ‘real guerrilla warfare.’

The official, on condition of anonymity said that the manhunt proves that these terrorists have received military training and have solid experience in battling forces. With steel bullets and rifles made in the US, the Indian forces suspect that either current Pakistani Army solider or a former commissioned troop is part of the group.

The IE report further added that one of the terrorists seem to have aM4 carbine. These assault rifles can fire 900 rounds in 60 seconds. In jungle warfare, taking an aim at target from half a kilometer can be a defining point as terrorists won't need to get engage with forces in a close combat.

The terrorists are using the dense jungles, that are spread between Jammu’s Kathua to south Kashmir in the Valley, as safe route of transit. Indian officials say that the terrorists are well-adapted to the tough terrain as well as brutal weather.