Security agencies in Kashmir are keeping a close watch on terrorist commanders who they say are under pressure from Pakistan to ‘act’ in the wake of the abrogation of Article 370. Top army sources revealed that their major priority currently is to eliminate terrorist leadership in the Valley so that low-rung terrorist cadre and their over-ground workers remain clueless about “future course of action.”

“Pakistan does not trust most Kashmiri terrorists and is only in touch with top commanders like Saifullah and Riyaz Naikoo,” said a senior army official. He said that in the recent past their intelligence network has been very successful in getting pinpoint information about the whereabouts of some senior terrorist commanders. “Earlier, we had informants in villages who used to get money on a monthly basis. But now we only give them money as and when they give us accurate information about the whereabouts of a terrorist. We call it ‘cash on delivery’ model,” he said.

The army is keeping a close vigil along the Line of Control as well. “It is quite peaceful right now, but almost every night there are attempts of infiltration,” another army source said. According to him, Indian response to July 30 ceasefire violation along the LoC by Pakistan was “severe”. “Our response has scared them. No major exchange of fire has happened after that,” he said.

Apart from security operations the focus was on to convey to people that the abrogation of Article 370 would bring in more development and that it should not be seen as anti-Kashmiri. “We are on a massive outreach and it will pay dividends,” a senior army commander said.