As the Government weighs out its options for an "appropriate" response following the 'fidayeen' attack on Sunjwan Army camp in Jammu last week, the security establishment has assessed that the impact of the surgical strikes post-Uri incident in 2016 has waned with as many as 400 terrorists said to be at the launch pads across the line of Control (loC) ready to infiltrate. Coupled with this "large" number, at least 300 terrorists are already in the Kashmir valley and the security top brass does not rule out an unabated spree of terror attacks throughout the year.
"In fact, it is matter of time before the scenario will unfold and terrorists try to infiltrate through North and South Kashmir besides loC in Jammu division," officials said here on Saturday.
Admitting that the numerical strength of terrorists waiting across the loC has swelled this year, they admitted even if 50 odd terrorists out of 400 manage to sneak in, security forces will have a tough time handling the situation.
Airing these concerns, officials said security forces are bracing for a "hot" summer with anticipated rise in number of terrorists desperate to make an impact. Attacks on security convoys, military establishments and stand-off attacks by firing at security personnel from a distance besides lobbing grenades at them are not ruled out, they said.
Field reports indicate that the apprehensions of security forces will unfold next month itself with determined bids to infiltrate with Pakistan Army giving terrorists cover fire by targeting Indian positions. Apart from this, the coming days are likely to witness rise in levels of violence in restive parts of the State with terrorists trying to engage security forces in firefights in densely populated areas in an attempt to have collateral damage. This may result in mass protests thereby serving the cause of terrorists, they said.
As regards continuous ceasefire violations, officials said most of them have taken place in Jammu division. Moreover, the last one and half months have seen nearly 280 ceasefire violations and if the present trend carries on, the number may soon cross the 860 mark, the figure for entire last year.
Pakistan Army is concentrating on the Indian region in Jammu division as hamlets are located close to the loC and relentless firing by mortars and light and medium machine guns have already spread panic amongst the inhabitants.
The Indian Army has adopted a twin-strategy to counter Pakistani tactics by launching fire assaults at posts across the loC to deter them from firing at villages. Also, the Army is selectively targeting those Pakistani posts harbouring terrorists before launching them into India, they said adding this policy will continue with local commanders given free hand to act as per prevailing situation. The Indian Army has used its posts at Balnoi, Sarla Mendhar, laleali, Doda, Banwat, Kalal and Karen among others, to launch the coordinated fire assaults at Pakistani posts.
The Pakistan Army has issued 35 red alerts to its forces after facing intense firing from India and the visits to forward areas by 10 Corps chief lt General Nadeem Raza have increased to Pakistani posts. His corps controls and directs infiltration into Kashmir besides "turning on and turning off" the terrorism tap as part of plan to keep the "pot boiling" in the border State, officials said.