Pak adopts 3-point 'new Kashmir strategy'

Islamabad, Oct 31: Pakistan has adopted a three-point "new Kashmir strategy" which involves shifting the focus away from violence in the Kashmir Valley to other parts of India, and to build up political support within Jammu and Kashmir.

However, according to the media reports, this has been unearthed by Indian intelligence agencies.

The second part of the strategy involves Islamabad identifying alternative infiltration routes from neighbouring countries to thwart the Indian Army's increased vigil on the Line of Control (LoC).

The third part deals with recruiting Indians for terrorist activities from the Middle East, the media reported.

According to the Intelligence Bureau (IB) report, the change in the international environment since 9/11 and the global pressure to stamp out terror have necessitated this shift in the strategy.

The IB report submitted to the Indian Home Ministry was discussed at a meeting and counter-strategy to be adopted with the help of the state police was decided.

They planned that state intelligence units would mobilise to look for terror modules in their areas.

"A shift in Pakistan's strategy was also apparent in Kashmir, wherein it sought a united political voice in its favour, while extending the arc of violence to the hinterland," the report stated.

"This was carefully orchestrated to ensure deniability, concealment of infrastructure, dispersion of support mechanisms and creation of separate modules," it added.

In Jammu and Kashmir, Islamabad is putting pressure on various pro-freedom groups, including militant organisations and two factions of the Hurriyat Conference to come together on a single platform facilitating Pakistan in its negotiations with India, according to the report.

Pakistan is also relocating its terror camps and expanding the social base of militants recruited for fighting in J-K, the report said, adding that such recruitment is being expanded to the Middle East.

With the Indian Army increasing its vigil in Jammu and Kashmir and with Pakistan under pressure, the report says Islamabad is now using alternative infiltration routes into India from Nepal, Bangladesh, Iran and Kuwait.

It is also exploring Sri Lanka and the Maldives to build up new infiltration routes, the daily quoted the report, as saying.

ANI

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