Srinagar, Mar 13, KNT: A total of 76 militants, including 59 foreign operatives affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), are currently active in Jammu and Kashmir, government sources revealed on Thursday.
The latest figures indicate a significant drop in the number of active militants in the region compared to the previous year when 91 militants were reported to be operating. The decline is even more pronounced when compared to 2022, when 135 militants were active, including 85 foreign and 50 local operatives.
Among the 76 militants currently operating, 17 are local recruits, while the remaining 59 are of foreign origin. Of the foreign militants, 35 are linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, 21 to Jaish-e-Mohammed, and three to Hizbul Mujahideen, sources stated.
Meanwhile, among the 17 local militants, 14 are active in the Kashmir Valley, while three are operating in Jammu.
Jammu and Kashmir has remained a hotspot of militancy since the late 1980s, with insurgent activities driven by Pakistan-based groups, cross-border infiltration, and radicalization efforts. However, security forces have intensified counter-insurgency operations in recent years, leading to a steady reduction in militant numbers.
Comparing the current figures with those of 2022, there has been an overall decline of approximately 48.35% in militant presence, indicating a continuing downward trend in insurgent activity across the Union Territory.
