Jammu & Kashmir: In a significant development along the Line of Control (LoC), Indian Army troops foiled a major infiltration attempt by heavily armed Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists in the Gambhir area of Rajouri district, capturing a Pakistani national acting as their guide, officials confirmed on Monday.
The captured man has been identified as Mohammed Arif Ahmed, son of Mohammad Yousuf, from Datote in the Nikiyal area of Kotli district in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He was apprehended near the forward Hajura post on Sunday afternoon.
“He confessed that he worked for Pak army to help terrorists infiltrate into the Indian side,” a defence official said. “He is being interrogated and crucial intelligence is being extracted. This will help in further strengthening the counter-infiltration grid.”
According to the official, Arif was guiding four JeM terrorists when alert Indian troops intercepted the group. The terrorists, upon being spotted, jumped off a cliff and retreated into Pakistani territory, reportedly sustaining injuries in the process.
“The Indian troops didn’t open fire because the fleeing terrorists were within Pakistani territory and a Pakistani army post was nearby,” the official explained.
A mobile phone and approximately ₹20,000 in Pakistani currency were recovered from Arif. During initial interrogation, he admitted to operating under the instructions of Pakistan Army officers stationed at forward posts. He further confirmed that the JeM group was carrying large quantities of arms, ammunition, and other warlike stores, reinforcing suspicions of a coordinated infiltration attempt.
Coordinated Operation
A senior defence official said earlier that the infiltration bid was disrupted as part of a joint counter-infiltration operation by the Army and BSF, based on specific intelligence inputs. The troops had maintained high surveillance in the rugged terrain of the Gambhir sector.
“The swift and decisive action by alert troops resulted in the capture of a key guide, effectively disrupting the infiltration attempt and likely causing injuries to the infiltrating terrorists,” the official said.
“During further operation, one individual, later identified as a guide facilitating the infiltration, was successfully apprehended. The remaining four terrorists, believed to be members of JeM, have sustained injuries during the attempt to escape and were forced to retreat back across the LoC,” he added.
Aftermath
Following the interception, a massive search operation was launched in the region, leading to the recovery of sensitive items and confirming the presence of sophisticated warlike material.
The captured guide is now undergoing detailed interrogation by a joint team, and sources say the information he provides could help tighten the counter-infiltration grid further in this highly sensitive region.
This incident highlights the continued threat posed by Pakistan-backed terror outfits attempting to infiltrate Indian territory, and the vigilance and preparedness of Indian forces to thwart such attempts.