'Surge in Kashmir attacks shows terrorists' frustration'
Political observers in the state say that the sudden attacks carried out by terrorists demonstrated that the recent lull in violence was "deliberate".
The recent surge in terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir demonstrate that the terrorist leadership feels sidelined and wants to take centrestage in any settlement of the Kashmir issue, political observers in the state say.
They said the sudden attacks carried out by terrorists demonstrated that the recent lull in violence was "deliberate".
In recent attacks, an IED blast targeted at an Army convoy at Rajbagh in Srinagar on Friday injured 19 jawans and an ambush on another convoy at Sheeri on the Srinagar-Uri road the same day led to the death of two security personnel and two terrorists.
A day earlier, terrorists had targeted a BSF convoy at Sopore in Baramulla district with an IED, injuring three troopers travelling in a vehicle.
The Hizbul Mujahideen had claimed responsibility for both the IED blasts. Observers claimed the message is clear -- the terrorist leadership felt sidelined and wanted to take centrestage in any settlement of the Kashmir issue.
They said it was in this backdrop that the Hurriyat Conference, ruling Peoples Democratic Party and Opposition National Conference have been advocating a "ceasefire" and involvement of militants in the talks process.
"No doubt, the level of violence in the state has gone down appreciably ever since the talks process has set in motion four years ago but the latest surge in violence could be not be dismissed as isolated attacks .... These are indicative of the presence of terrorists and their striking capability," an observer said.
Observers said grenade throwing incidents had also come down and terrorism was restricted to gunfights between terrorists and security forces during search operations.
Meanwhile, authorities have beefed up security across the valley in view of the recent spurt in terrorist attacks and attempts by militants to infiltrate into the valley from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, official sources said.
Security forces deployed in the valley have been asked to intensify patrols, checking of vehicles and frisking of suspected persons, the sources said.
Vigil at the border has been tightened to scuttle any attempt by terrorists to sneak in.
Of late, there has been an increase in the number of attempts by terrorists to sneak into the valley from across the border to sustain terrorism, the sources said, adding three such attempts were foiled last week in which two terrorists and an Army jawan were killed in Kupwara district.
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