SRINAGAR: As of July 19, around 3,000 Army troops and 400-500 special forces personnel have been deployed in the Jammu area, the Hindu quoted defense sources reported.
This deployment complements the existing Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in the region.
The increase in troop levels follows recent incidents of violence, including the death of four Army personnel and a Jammu and Kashmir policeman in an encounter in Doda on Monday.
This occurred just a week after five soldiers were killed in Kathua. The recent violence marks a shift of militant activity to the Jammu region, resulting in significant casualties.
The Rashtriya Rifles (RR) division, consisting of ten battalions, was relocated to eastern Ladakh amid the stand-off with China, reducing troop presence in Jammu at a time when terrorism is increasing in the region.
Each RR battalion typically includes between 15,000 and 20,000 troops.
Militant activity has been shifting south of Pir Panjal, reminiscent of earlier periods of intense violence. Foreign terrorists have been infiltrating and operating in areas such as Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar, and Bhaderwah before moving into the Kashmir Valley.
The challenging terrain of Pir Panjal, with elevations ranging from 3,000 to 14,500 feet, and dense forest cover adds to the difficulty of counter-terrorism operations.
A significant issue is the lack of effective ground intelligence in Jammu south of Pir Panjal.
Militants are using encrypted Chinese-made satellite phones, which are difficult to intercept and decrypt.
