New Delhi, October 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Pakistan-based terror outfits are allegedly shifting their focus from the abrogation of Article 370 to local socio-political issues in Jammu and Kashmir in an attempt to incite unrest and attract young recruits, according to a recent intelligence assessment.
Security agencies have warned that terror handlers are seeking to exploit existing grievances and social tensions in the Union Territory to build support for their activities.
Following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, Pakistan-based groups extensively sought to mobilise people around the issue. According to the assessment, that narrative has since lost traction, prompting the outfits to focus on other contentious issues.
The recent extension of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Pahari ethnic community has emerged as one such issue. The move has reportedly generated resentment among sections of the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities, which have held ST status since 1991.
The issue has led to protests and street agitations in parts of the region, although officials cited in the assessment said there had been no large-scale communal or physical violence over it.
An Intelligence Bureau official said handlers were initially approaching people through private messaging platforms and social media. Some communications were allegedly advocating violence, with officials warning that individuals engaging with such narratives could become potential recruits for groups such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
The assessment said the Pir Panjal region has emerged as a particular area of concern, with handlers allegedly attempting to use the issue to create social divisions and provoke unrest. Security agencies fear that any subsequent law-and-order response could further deepen grievances and provide terror groups with additional material for recruitment.
Officials also alleged that handlers were spreading narratives portraying Jammu as receiving preferential treatment over the Kashmir Valley and claiming that people in the Valley were being sidelined.
Another issue being exploited, according to intelligence officials, relates to migrant workers. Terror groups have previously sought to portray migrants as taking employment opportunities away from local residents, and officials said such narratives were being amplified to create resentment.
The assessment also pointed to alleged attempts by groups such as the LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed, through their proxies, to circulate hit lists targeting migrant workers in Jammu and Kashmir. Migrant workers have also been targeted in attacks in the past.
Security officials said the exploitation of socio-political grievances remains a challenge because existing social tensions can be amplified through misinformation and online messaging.
The intelligence assessment warned that if such narratives gain wider acceptance and lead to street violence, they could pose a fresh law-and-order challenge in the region.
The Jammu and Kashmir government continues to issue ST certificates to eligible members of the Pahari ethnic community under prescribed criteria. More than 5.73 lakh ST-II certificates had been issued across the Union Territory as of September 2026, according to data placed before the J&K Assembly.
The Centre has also continued action against Pakistan-based terror networks. In July 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs designated 23 individuals associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, citing allegations including recruitment, infiltration, arms supply and attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
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