J&K desperation drives Lashkar-e-Taiba to water routes as land infiltration closes

Intelligence inputs indicate Lashkar-e-Taiba is exploring maritime infiltration routes with alleged ISI support after land routes became difficult. Security agencies are monitoring possible water channels in Jammu and Kashmir and Gujarat, while enhancing surveillance against potential terror infiltration attempts

New Delhi: With the land routes becoming extremely difficult to infiltrate, the Lashkar-e-Taiba is now planning to send its terrorists using the water routes. Latest Intelligence inputs suggest that the Lashkar-e-Taiba, with the help of the ISI, is examining the water routes that could be used to infiltrate India.

Post Operation Sindoor, multiple attempts have been made at infiltration, but all of them have failed. India has enhanced its border security, thus making it next to impossible to infiltrate through both the borders at Jammu and Kashmir as well as in Punjab.

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An Intelligence Bureau official said the reason for exploring the sea route is that the Lashkar-e-Taiba feels that it would be easier to dodge the security forces. The official said that water-based infiltration is not a new phenomenon.

The Lashkar-e-Taiba had used the sea to enter India earlier also. Ten of its terrorists carried out an attack in Mumbai on November 26, 2008. However, this time, the infiltration is specific to Jammu and Kashmir as the outfit wants to resume its activities in a big way. In the Jammu sector, the Chenab and Tawi rivers are the targets, officials say.

The Akhnoor sector is a critical route and terror groups have tried infiltrating using the Chenab River and the surrounding dense vegetation and water bodies. They have used these routes to cross the International Border under the cover of both fog and darkness.

Officials say that if they manage to enter using this route, then they can position their terrorists easily in Jammu and Kashmir. Another official said that the target would be to have at least 50 to 100 active Pakistani terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.

Once in the Valley, these terrorists would be told to take cover in the dense forests and then await instructions before the next strike could be carried out. The other possibility that the Lashkar-e-Taiba would explore is the Sir Creek and Harami Nala.

These serve as major infiltration points. Since it is extremely hard to patrol these points, terrorists try to use this route to enter Gujarat. If they manage this, then the Lashkar-e-Taiba would ensure that the terrorists reach Jammu and Kashmir using the road, the official also added.

Officials say that while these are the routes the Lashkar-e-Taiba is exploring, considering it is next to impossible to infiltrate through land routes, it would not be an easy exercise.

Intelligence inputs suggest that large-scale training is being imparted to potential infiltrators. A lot of emphasis is being given to maritime training. The official said that, like what one got to witness at the time of the Mumbai 26/11 attacks, this time too the ISI has assigned naval officials to impart maritime training.

The new lot of Lashkar-e-Taiba is undergoing training at the Mangala Dam, the same place where Ajmal Kasab and the ten other terrorists trained before coming to Mumbai. An official said that the plan is an ambitious one, but it would be extremely hard to undertake.

The Ministry of Home Affairs MHA) had said that the international borders are being patrolled and dominated with the help of water crafts/speedboats and the floating border outposts of the Border Guarding Forces (BGF). Further, the usage of hi-tech surveillance equipment along with day and night vision devices is being used to further enhance border domination, the MHA had also said.

Officials say that though hard, the Lashkar-e-Taiba will go all out to execute this plan. It desperately needs some action in Jammu and Kashmir.

Further, Pakistan is being watched by the entire world owing to the chaos that has erupted in Balochistan, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). A major attack in Jammu and Kashmir will not only re-commence Lashkar-e-Taiba operations, but it would also act as a major diversion from Pakistan’s own mess, an official said.