Have crippled terror ecosystem, now make Jammu and Kashmir terror-free: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday directed all security agencies deployed in Jammu and Kashmir to remain on high alert and intensify coordinated operations to make the Union Territory completely “terror-free” at the earliest. Chairing a high-level security review meeting in New Delhi, Shah said the terror ecosystem in the region had been “crippled” due to sustained and synchronized efforts since the abrogation of Article 370, but stressed that the momentum must be maintained to secure lasting peace.

The meeting was attended by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka, senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, top officers from the Jammu and Kashmir administration, and chiefs of central armed police forces. Officials said the review was particularly significant as it comes ahead of Republic Day celebrations, a period marked by heightened security concerns.

According to an official statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs after the meeting, Shah reiterated the government’s firm commitment to completely eliminating terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir. He praised the security forces for strengthening the overall security environment and said that counter-terror operations targeting terrorist infrastructure, networks, and financing must continue in a “mission mode.”

Shah assured the agencies that the Centre would provide all necessary resources—manpower, technology, intelligence support, and logistical backing—to help them achieve the objective of a terror-free Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasized that close coordination among the Army, central armed police forces, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and intelligence agencies was crucial to sustaining recent gains.

Security officials briefed the home minister on ongoing operations, including intensified searches in mountainous terrain and dense forest areas, where terrorists are believed to be hiding. Agencies are also maintaining strict vigilance along the borders to prevent infiltration attempts from across the Line of Control and the international border.

Last month, as reported earlier, the Border Security Force in the Jammu sector flagged the re-emergence of at least nine Jaish-e-Mohammed terror launch pads across the international border in Pakistan. These facilities had reportedly been dismantled following India’s military response under Operation Sindoor.

The renewed security push follows the April 22 terror attack at the Baisaran meadow, which sharply escalated tensions between India and Pakistan. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7, targeting terror and military installations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir before a ceasefire was announced on May 10.

Shah said the government’s strategy now focuses on preventing the revival of terror networks, choking funding channels, and ensuring that development and normalcy continue across Jammu and Kashmir, reinforcing peace achieved through security and governance measures.