Jammu Kashmir: BSF Nabs Pakistan-trained Militant On International Border | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: In a rare instance of a militant attempting to infiltrate through the International Border rather than the Line of Control, the Border Security Force has arrested an alleged Pakistan-trained Jaish-e-Mohammed operative in the Pargwal sector of the Akhnoor belt, officials said. The outfit is banned in Jammu and Kashmir.

The BSF said it foiled an infiltration attempt after its troops noticed suspicious movement near the border fence in the Pargwal area and apprehended an armed intruder who had just crossed over from Pakistan. An MP5 rifle, one magazine with 10 rounds and a drum magazine were recovered from his possession.

The arrested individual has been identified as Abdul Khaliq, 41, son of late Noor Mohammad, a resident of Ujhan Magra in the Darhal area of Rajouri district. Officials said Khaliq had exfiltrated to Pakistan in November 2021 by crossing the Line of Control in the Nowshera sector of Rajouri and had subsequently undergone arms training in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Media reports quoted the sources as saying that Khaliq had allegedly set his house on fire days before exfiltrating to fake his death and had temporarily shifted to his relatives’ house at Rani Badesar in the Chingus area of Nowshera, close to the LoC. After surveying the area for several days, he is said to have crossed over into PoJK, where he was already in contact with Jaish-e-Mohammed operatives, including commanders based in Pakistan and PoJK.

Sources said he underwent around six months of rigorous training at the Samahni camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed, where he was trained in handling assault rifles and grenades and interacted with senior commanders of the outfit. Several other militants, mostly from Pakistan, were also undergoing training at the same facilities. After completing his training, Khaliq was reportedly kept at the Barnala–Chhamb camp, where he was briefed on plans to recruit local cadres in Rajouri and Poonch districts, radicalise youth and identify potential targets.

Officials said Khaliq had infiltrated back into Indian territory through the International Border in the Pargwal sector with the alleged objective of reaching the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch to revive indigenous militancy by recruiting and radicalising local youth. His plan, however, failed as he was apprehended immediately after crossing the border.

The BSF handed him over to Police Post Pargwal under Police Station Khour for further legal action. Jammu police, in a brief statement, said the intruder had been apprehended along with a weapon near the International Border and had been taken into custody for investigation. He is being sent to the Joint Interrogation Centre to ascertain his role in militant activities and the precise motive behind his infiltration attempt, officials said.

Sources added that the weapon recovered from Khaliq was a modified version of an assault rifle. While there are inputs suggesting his links with banned Jaish-e-Mohammed and possible involvement in earlier infiltration attempts, officials said these aspects are yet to be formally established during investigation.

Meanwhile, the BSF has said it has stepped up alert levels along the International Border from Jammu to Kathua as part of its winter management strategy. Troops have been conducting intensified surveillance and combing operations along vulnerable stretches of the IB for the past fortnight amid inputs that militants could attempt to exploit foggy conditions in the plains to infiltrate.

Officials said surveillance has also been strengthened along the Line of Control in Rajouri and Poonch districts to ensure that no infiltration takes place under the cover of winter weather. The security forces, they added, remain prepared to thwart any such attempts along both the IB and the LoC.
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