Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s unequivocal call to security agencies to achieve the goal of a “terror-free Jammu and Kashmir” at the earliest is both a recognition of how far the region has come and a clear signal that the final phase of counter-terror operations has begun. The high-level security review chaired by the Home Minister underscores the Government’s resolve to consolidate the gains achieved since the abrogation of Article 370 and to decisively close the chapter of terrorism that has plagued J&K for over three decades.
There is little doubt that Jammu and Kashmir today stands at a markedly different point in history compared to the years preceding August 5, 2019. Sustained political will, institutional clarity, and coordinated security operations have fundamentally altered the security landscape. The separatist ecosystem, which once thrived on intimidation, street mobilisation, and external patronage, has been systematically dismantled. Many prominent separatist leaders and their sympathisers are now facing the rule of law, while others languish behind bars, stripped of the ability to incite unrest or sustain parallel power structures. Equally significant has been the decimation of the financial arteries of terrorism. Hawala networks that once funnelled funds from across the border to sustain terror modules, radicalisation networks, and street violence have been broken. Their operators, long shielded by fear and political ambiguity, have been exposed and prosecuted. Terror financing is no longer able to function with impunity. As a result, terror outfits today face not only operational pressure but also acute resource constraints.
On the ground, the transformation is visible and measurable. Hartals and stone-pelting-once routine instruments of chaos-have virtually disappeared. Civil life continues uninterrupted even after isolated security incidents, reflecting both public fatigue with violence and growing confidence in the ability to maintain order. The security apparatus has created such intense and sustained pressure that survival itself has become a challenge for terrorists. Any terror activity now triggers swift and focused operations, leading to the elimination of the entire module involved. There is no space left for regrouping or symbolic victories. The tightening noose around over- and underground workers has been a critical factor in this success. By dismantling local support networks-safe houses, couriers, guides, and sympathisers-the security forces have denied terrorists the oxygen they need to operate. Day by day, the ecosystem that once sustained militancy is shrinking, isolated from both finances and social acceptance.
Another major achievement has been border management. The LoC and IB are now practically impregnable, thanks to enhanced surveillance, multi-layered deployment, and improved coordination among agencies. Infiltration attempts are routinely detected and foiled, frustrating Pakistan-sponsored designs to revive terrorism through foreign terrorists. While challenges remain due to terrain and weather, the overall trend clearly favours the defenders.
Yet, realism demands acknowledgement that the job is not entirely finished. A limited number of hardcore terrorists continue to hide in dense jungles and upper reaches, particularly in parts of the Jammu region. Their ability to carry out sporadic attacks makes the Home Minister’s emphasis on making J&K not just “terror-free” but effectively “terror-incident free” especially relevant. Even a single attack has disproportionate consequences-it undermines public confidence, disrupts normalcy, and deals a severe blow to tourism and the broader economy, which are vital to J&K’s long-term stability.
The Government’s clarity of objectives is unmistakable, and the security agencies are aligned with this vision. Public cooperation has emerged as a force multiplier, with increasing instances of citizens reporting terrorist sightings. Each such input is taken seriously, often leading to encounters and successful operations. This growing trust between the people and the security forces marks a decisive break from the past. With the Home Minister’s assurance that all resources-manpower, intelligence, and technology-will be made available, the final phase is likely to be relentless. The use of modern technology, including drones, advanced surveillance, and real-time intelligence sharing, has already transformed counter-terror operations. Combined with an alert police force, coordinated operations by multiple agencies, and continuous inputs from the public, the system is now working in rare synergy. A terror-free-and terror-incident-free-J&K is no longer an aspiration; it is an achievable goal within reach.
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