Kashmir terror graph hits historic low: Only one local terrorist active as J&K Police-led forces shatter terror ecosystem

In a landmark development for the security landscape of Jammu and Kashmir, the Kashmir Valley today has only one active local terrorist the lowest number ever recorded in the region’s history.

This unprecedented situation, officially confirmed by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Zone Sujit Kumar, marks a decisive shift achieved through sustained, intelligence-driven operations by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and security forces.

Addressing the media, IGP Kumar stated that the terror footprint in the Valley has shrunken to its lowest point. Alongside the solitary local terrorist, a small group of 8 to 10 foreign terrorists continues to operate, remaining constantly on the move.

"There is one local terrorist, and he has orchestrated attacks in Anantnag and Kulgam, for sure. And he is being supported by a few foreign terrorists also. There are some footprints, but there cannot be a certain number, because these are just transit trails somewhere they are at this point, next day they are at another point and we are tracking them. Any fixed figure will be an exaggeration," Kumar said.

This dramatic reduction has caused significant frustration among Pakistan-based terror handlers and their cross-border networks. Equally significant is the complete absence of local recruitment into terror ranks this year a development attributed in large measure to the determined role of families who have actively discouraged their children from joining militant outfits.

The present situation did not emerge overnight. It is the direct result of relentless and successful operations conducted by security forces under the leadership of the Jammu and Kashmir Police. These operations have systematically targeted active terrorists, Over Ground Workers (OGWs), sleeper cells, and the financial networks that sustained the terror ecosystem. By dismantling the support structure, disrupting money trails, and neutralizing key facilitators, security forces have broken the traditional terror machinery that once thrived in the Valley.

With recruitment drying up, Pakistan-backed handlers have shifted their strategy. According to police sources, their focus has moved toward activating residual OGWs, sleeper cells, and hybrid terror modules. These networks require substantial funding, which continues to be generated primarily through the narcotics trade.

"Money comes through narcotics. The kingpins, whether sitting here or across the border, use those earnings to distribute funds to their underground workers' groups using coded aliases," Kumar noted.

Kumar added that border areas remain closely linked to this narco-terror continuum. While the challenge is significant, security forces are actively tackling it. Recoveries of narcotics and related machinery have already been made, with the government seizing control of such assets.

IGP Kumar emphasized that security forces continue to receive and act upon regular intelligence inputs regarding terrorist movements.

"We have repeated inputs about terrorist movements, and we work according to the inputs we receive. Our team is alert according to those inputs and is working. We are keeping an eye on people supporting them. Threats do come, yes. And we tackle them well," he stated.

On the issue of periodic restrictions on civilian traffic along the national highway due to security convoy movements, Kumar acknowledged public concerns while underlining the persistent threat environment.

"As I told you earlier too, the threats continuously persist. Day in and day out, problems keep occurring on the highway; many IEDs are found and destroyed. So, in the security protocol, all these things are kept in mind. But this issue is continuous and sensitive, and regarding that, discussions are ongoing with everyone, and our eyes are definitely on it," Kumar stated.

The current historic low in active local terrorism stands as clear evidence of the effectiveness of coordinated operations by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and accompanying security forces. By striking at active terrorists, their support networks, and the financial pipelines that fed the ecosystem, forces have fundamentally altered the operational landscape in the Valley.

While residual foreign terrorists and attempts to revive hybrid modules through narco-funding remain areas of concern, security agencies continue to maintain surveillance and act on intelligence inputs to prevent any attempts to revive terrorist networks in the region.