Pakistan’s ISI has launched a direct offensive against security forces in Jammu and Kashmir in a revamped strategy to put India on the back foot, the security agencies told Union Home Ministry. In the latest report shared with the MHA, the security agencies have warned that the ISI has asked the cross border terror outfits, particularly those operating in Jammu and Kashmir, to attack Indian security forces and not make civilians their target.
 
The fresh intelligence inputs come close on the heels of three back to back attacks in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday killing three security personnel, including one head constable. The MHA, which has sought reports from the security agencies and state government, is examining whether the attacks are coordinated attacks by a particular outfit or separate groups.
 
According to the inputs gathered through human intelligence network, a Pakistani officer of the rank of a Major has been tasked to coordinate such attacks on security forces. Top security officials said the ISI’s revamped strategy is a direct attempt to whip up anti-security forces sentiments in the Valley once again by not making civilians the target of any terror acts.
 
“The ISI is keenly aware that if any civilians are killed there will be intense criticism and scrutiny at the international level and India stands to gain here.  So the idea is now to garner the sympathy of the civilians and encash on those sentiments in the Valley that are anti-security forces,” a top government functionary said.
 
The attacks in Valley came while Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, opening Asia’s largest Tulip Garden here, hoped that a record number of domestic and foreign tourists would visit the Valley.
 
A day earlier, Union minister of state for tourism Mahesh Sharma had said that the Centre would “combat terrorism” in Kashmir with tourism.
Former J&K tourism chief Muhammad Ashraf said, “Such things (Monday’s attacks) always happened when politicians tried to use tourism as a barometer of political normalcy.” Former chief minister Omar Abdullah too said the attacks on policemen were a grim reminder of the challenges in the Valley.