Pak agencies using social media to radicalise youths: Army | Photo Credit: ANI

Udhampur: Indian Army on Monday alleged that the Pakistan agencies are trying to radicalise Kashmiri youths as they are unable to engineer infiltration of terrorists from across the Line of Control (LoC).

"Pakistan has been continuing with its efforts to show this (terrorism) as an indigenous movement. Today, they feel absolutely starved because of the very effective counter-infiltration grid of the Indian Army," General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Asserting that local recruitment still remains a matter of concern, he said that youths do not want to become “fodder for Pakistani agencies” anymore.

"Successful infiltration from across the LoC is virtually becoming very difficult. Therefore, for them (Pakistan) to continue with this militancy, they want that the local content should be increased,” the army commander said.

"Local recruitment remains a matter of concern for all of us. Last year, 217 local youths had taken to militancy. This year, number has significantly reduced. As on date, there are only 40 youths who have picked up arms," he added.

Lt. Gen. Singh also said that a large number of youths shun militancy and returned to mainstream because of its outreach programmes to connect with families.

As per official data, there has been a rise in the number of youths joining militancy since 2016.

In 2014, 53 youths had joined militancy in Kashmir and 66 in 2015. In 2017, 126 locals had joined militant ranks, the report suggests.

The main breeding ground for militants are South Kashmir districts including Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag.

The army commander said one of the key reasons for this is "radicalisation" of youths through "exploitation of social media by Pakistani agencies."

"One of the key reasons of recruitment is radicalisation and exploitation through social media by Pakistani agencies (to lure youths to pick up guns and engineer violence in Kashmir)," Singh said.

"However, the realisation is coming to the youths and people of Kashmir that we do not want to become fodder for Pakistani agencies and various inimical elements, who want to promote terrorism and violence in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

"I am sure with the help of all the stakeholders we will be able to arrest this trend in the times to come as we are doing now," he added.