Terror Attack In Poonch: Congress Calls It 'Political Stunt Of BJP' While PM Modi Upset Over Repeated Pakistan-Backed Violent Acts

The Indian Army has confirmed the presence of at least four terrorist groups operating in the Rajouri-Poonch sector, affiliated with different Pakistan-based terror organisations as per a report by Hindustan Times.

What has Congress said?

Congress leader and former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has dismissed the terror attack in Poonch last Saturday as a political ploy by the BJP during the 2024 election campaign.

The attack involved terrorists spraying gunfire on three vehicles of an Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy using assault rifles, resulting in the death of one IAF corporal and injuries to four others.

What had actually transpired?

The Rajouri-Poonch sector, situated close to the Line of Control (LoC), has witnessed previous terror incidents targeting both armed forces and civilians over the past three years, with perpetrators originating from the same region across the border.

According to top officials, electromagnetic surveillance of the area indicates the presence of approximately 12 terrorists divided into four groups representing various organisations from Occupied Kashmir.

Despite the IAF convoy adhering to standard operating procedures, the audacious terrorists targeted the vehicle carrying armed troopers, evidently acting on instructions from across the border.

The attackers caught the occupants of the last vehicle off guard and fired bullets at the windshield to target the driver and support staff.

How has PM Modi reacted to the incident?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed dismay at the indiscriminate terror killings in the Rajouri-Poonch sector and conveyed his concerns to the top Indian Army officials.

However, addressing the terrorist presence in this region will likely necessitate a significant counter-terrorism operation, potentially resulting in casualties due to the challenging terrain.

The densely forested mountainous terrain provides an ideal environment for asymmetric warfare, with local terrorists operating on both sides of the LoC and relying on the natural surroundings for sustenance.

Despite the Modi government granting the armed forces autonomy to combat terrorism in the Rajouri-Poonch sector, the 16 Corps formation based in Nagrota, along with local police, has struggled to neutralise the terrorist threat.

Consequently, both Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Tayyeba exploit the sector for infiltration and launching terror attacks within the union territory.