119 terrorists active in J&K: Exclusive Intel reveals shifting trends in terror ops

A total of 119 terrorists are currently active in Jammu and Kashmir, with operations and recruitment patterns showing evolving trends in the region’s ongoing security challenges, as per intelligence inputs exclusively accessed by India Today TV.
Sources mention that 79 of these terrorists are concentrated north of the Pir Panjal range, with a composition of 18 local recruits and 61 foreign operatives. South of the Pir Panjal, there are 40 active terrorists, 34 of whom are foreign nationals, while only 6 are local recruits.
As per sources, Jammu and Kashmir has seen 25 terror-related incidents so far this year, the latest of which occurred in Bandipore. These incidents have resulted in the deaths of 24 soldiers and officers in 2024, a toll nearing last year’s figure of 27 security personnel lost to similar attacks in 2023, which recorded 25 incidents.
In the face of these challenges, counter-terrorism measures have made substantial progress. Intelligence inputs confirm that security forces have neutralised 61 terrorists in 2024, with 45 killed within Jammu and Kashmir’s hinterland and 16 near the Line of Control (LoC). Among the eliminated terrorists, 21 were identified as Pakistani nationals. This represents a slight increase from 2023, when 60 terrorists were killed, including 35 within the hinterland and 12 identified as Pakistanis.
Sources further note a shift in terrorist operations, with decreased activity along the LoC, alongside strengthened hinterland counter-terrorism efforts. This trend is attributed to diminishing local support for terrorist activities and enhanced security strategies.
Local recruitment in Jammu and Kashmir has declined, while Pakistan allegedly fills terrorist ranks by employing unemployed, less-educated youth from within its borders, sources said.
“The current trends highlight both operational successes and evolving challenges,” a senior intelligence source told India Today. “The reduction in LoC activities and the lower local recruitment are positive indicators, but the persistent presence of foreign terrorists, particularly from Pakistan, underscores the need for continued vigilance.”
Security forces, bolstered by real-time intelligence monitoring, remain committed to maintaining stability in Jammu and Kashmir and are focused on preventing further escalation in the region.