Since there is strong sentiment against civilian killings, the ISI has instructed them to attack security forces and not civilians," a senior MHA official said.

Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence has directed militants operating in Jammu and Kashmir to direct their attacks on Indian security personnel and establishments, rather than civilian targets, Union Home Ministry officials said here on Monday.

“Internationally, there is a strong sentiment against civilian killings. As a conscious policy, the ISI has instructed them to attack security forces and not civilians,” a senior MHA official said.

Officials cited Monday’s attacks at Ashipora in Shopian district and Patan in Baramulla district in which three police personnel were killed and one was injured. The new strategy, which is expected to last through summer according to intelligence agencies, has caused a spurt in casualties among men in uniform, the official said.

Quoting intelligence inputs from last week, the official said the directive from Pakistan’s Army to terrorist groups like Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen comes in the wake of international pressure. Global powers have joined hands against terrorist violence aimed at innocent civilians, he said.

Another aspect of the ISI-backed militancy in J&K has been an increase in the frequency and severity of attacks, officials said. Two militants attacked an Army camp on the Jammu-Pathankot highway in Samba on March 21. However, the attack was foiled by security personnel who killed both the terrorists.

On March 20, two other militants of the same group had attacked a police station in Kathua district killing three security personnel, two civilians and injuring 11, including a DSP.