Terrorists in 'military uniform' raising major security concern in J&K since Pahalgam terror attack

In the April 22 Pahalgam attack, 26 people were killed when terrorists opened fired at Baisaran Valley.

In one of the deadliest attacks on civilians since 26/11, heavily-armed terrorists on April 22 opened fire at people visiting Pahalgam's picturesque Baisaran Valley. In the attack which claimed the lives of 26 people - mostly tourists - terrorists from The Resistance Front (TRF) were seen wearing uniforms resembling those of Indian armed forces. But it was not the lone incident where terrorists disguised themselves in military outfits.

This disturbing trend emerging in Jammu & Kashmir is complicating efforts of security personnel as well as civilians to identify possible threats, reports News18.

India armed forced launched Operation Sindoor in the wee hours of May 7 in response to the Pahalgam attack. The strikes, which targeted nine terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), destroyed Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) stronghold of Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba's (LeT) base Muridke among others.

The operation was one of the most aggressive military actions since the Balakot air strikes in 2019. Investigators believe some of the terrorists may still be hiding in South Kashmir.

With the hunt for the Pahalgam perpetrators still underway, security forces conducted two separate operations - Keller and Nader - in which six dreaded terrorists were killed. In one of these encounters in Tral, three JeM operatives who were killed were also found wearing clothes resembling the uniforms of Indian armed forces. The 'uniforms' and equipment are now being scrutinised.

In another incident on May 10, an alert sentry at the high-security in Jammu's Nagrota Military Station foiled a suspected infiltration attempt. The intruder, possibly dressed in military fatigues, attempted to breach the perimeter but was repelled in a brief exchange of fire. The Army's White Knight Corps stated that heightened alertness and prompt action prevented a potential disaster.

Terrorists opting for lookalike uniforms is leading to a huge security concern. Officials fear it could lead to deadly confusion, especially during fast-moving operations or when civilians need to distinguish friend from foe.

"This tactic is not only dangerous but also deeply deceptive. It's a direct attempt to erode the trust between civilians and uniformed forces," a senior intelligence officer told News18.

The matter was recently taken up during a high-level meeting with top security officials in New Delhi. To counter this challenge, security checks are being intensified and agencies are also reviewing standard operating procedures (SOP).