Intentions behind infiltrations in Kashmir Valley

There was lull in the Kashmir Valley before fidayeens (suicide attackers) struck last week. Security experts see a pattern behind the latest strikes in the Valley and point out a well-planned strategy.

Over the days to come, there will be increased activity in the Valley, Intelligence Bureau officials told rediff.com.

Terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Tayiba have kept over 500 fidayeens on standby to cross over into the Valley and engage Indian security agencies in a gunbattle. Saturday's foiled infiltration bid is an example.

Experts say the primary factor that ensures the survival of a terror outfit in Pakistan is the battle in Kashmir. Terror groups, especially the Lashkar, even gained the support of the locals when it openly proclaimed that it was formed to wage "freedom struggle" in Kashmir.

However, off late, the outfit is losing local support since it has been diverting from its main cause. Nowadays, the Lashkar has been more in the news for mindless terror activities, aimed at targeting innocent people.

Moreover, it has shifted focus from the Valley. Over the past year, the support base has gone down considerably, IB sources point out.

Hence on the directions of the ISI, outfits such as the Lashkar have been specifically told to escalate operations in the Valley so that the main purpose of forming the outfit is not lost and so that their support base persists.

Intercepts picked up between the fidayeens and their handlers back in Pakistan during the latest gun battle in the Valley suggest that there are many more such attacks to follow. In fact, the handlers were heard telling the gunmen that they had to continue to fight so that it would act as an inspiration to the other cadres waiting to cross over.