In a significant development, the Jammu and Kashmir Police reported that only ten local recruits have joined terrorist ranks in the region this year. Out of these, six have already been killed, while the remaining four have the opportunity to either surrender or meet the same fate. This marks the lowest number of locals joining militancy in Jammu and Kashmir since 1990 when Pakistan-backed militancy began in the region.
Last year, 110 Kashmiri youths joined terrorist groups, with most of them being killed during encounters with security forces.
Dilbag Singh, the Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, expressed satisfaction with this positive trend, highlighting that the youth of Kashmir has become more aware of the tricks and conspiracies of extremist elements. He wished that even these ten individuals had not chosen the path of militancy and emphasized the importance of youth in Jammu and Kashmir siding with peace.
Out of the ten local recruits, six have already been neutralized. The police chief urged the four remaining suspects who are armed and active to surrender, emphasizing that the doors for their “ghar wapsi” (return home) are open.
The significant decrease in the recruitment of local individuals into terrorist ranks represents a major achievement in the fight against militancy in Jammu and Kashmir over the past three decades. The decline in local recruitment is seen as a positive outcome of the crackdown against separatists and their support structures that began after the revocation of Article 370 in 2019.
While the region witnessed a decrease in the total number of terrorists and reduced civilian and security force casualties in 2013, the situation changed after 2014, with a rising trend of local recruitment into terrorist groups. However, the stringent security measures, crackdown on separatists, and targeted elimination of terrorist commanders inside Pakistan have dealt a severe blow to the capacity of terrorist organizations to recruit and arm local youth in the Kashmir Valley. This decline in local recruitment is a significant step toward restoring peace and stability in the region.