Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 15

At least 70 militants have infiltrated into Kashmir from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir so far this year.According to the Multi-Agency Centre, 70 militants, mostly from the Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, had managed to sneak into the Valley this year, sources said. MAC is a nodal agency that comprises security and intelligence officials for assessing the ground situation.“Infiltration attempts are being constantly made. The Army has been able to eliminate at least 60 militants along the Line of Control in Kashmir. However, 70 militants have been able to sneak into the Valley,” the sources said.However, a senior Army officer said the ground input was that around 45 militants had managed to sneak into the Valley.“According to the Army and police assessment, around 45 militants have managed to infiltrate into the Valley. There is some discrepancy with the MAC figures and that is being looked into,” the senior Army officer said.However, he maintained that infiltration figures were less than last year’s.At least 87 militants had managed to enter the Valley till September last year, and the number went to 112 till the end of the year, the highest since 2012.The Army officer claimed that militants from across would be now be making desperate attempts to sneak into the Valley as snow closes the mountain passes along LoC in the region for the next five or six months of winter.“We are expecting more action along the LoC as more attempts will be made to push militants in the coming months,” the officer said. “We may also see BAT action close to the LoC and we are ready for the challenges. Recently, three BAT attacks were foiled along the LoC in Kashmir.This year 166 militants, including top commanders of the Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish have been killed by the security forces this year so far. There are over 220 militants active in Kashmir.