New Delhi: The five Army men who were killed in a terrorist attack in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, according to Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, left him “deeply anguished.” Counterterrorism activities are in progress, according to Singh, and the soldiers are committed to “ushering in peace and order” in the area. A patrolling party in the Badnota area of Kathua was ambushed by a gang of heavily armed terrorists on Monday, resulting in the deaths of five Army personnel and the injuries of an equal number. The loss of five valiant Indian Army soldiers in a terrorist attack in Badnota, Kathua (J&K) pains me greatly. My sincere sympathies go out to the families who have lost a loved one; the country is standing by them at this trying period. The operations against terrorists have begun.

The defense minister expressed her great sadness for the loss of five courageous Indian Army personnel in a terrorist attack in Badnota, Kathua (J&K) on X. “The country stands firmly with the bereaved families during this trying time. My deepest condolences. “Our soldiers are committed to bringing peace and order to the area, and counterterrorism operations are currently under progress,” he stated. “I pray for a speedy recovery to those who sustained injuries in this dastardly terror attack,” Singh continued.

Attacks of terror in Jammu are concerning

The increase in terror strikes in Jammu that occur below the Pir Panjal range has security establishments worried. There were several attacks in the area in June. In the Gandoh area of Jammu’s Doda district, three militants were slain in gunfire on June 26 following an altercation with security personnel. Unidentified terrorists opened fire on a bus carrying pilgrims in the Reasi district of the Jammu area on June 9, the day of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony. This led to at least 10 fatalities and 33 injuries.
Three days after the Reasi incident, the area was rocked by three consecutive attacks. The attacks in Jammu’s Reasi, Doda, and Kathua districts resulted in 49 injuries, including seven security personnel, and the deaths of nine civilians and one CRPF member. The incident in Kathua also claimed the lives of two terrorists.

Positioning at China’s border

Former Northern Army commander Lieutenant General BS Jaswal (retd) told the Hindustan Times that as a result of forces being drawn out to be deployed in the Ladakh sector amid the ongoing standoff with China along the Line of Actual Control, there was a decrease in troop density in areas south of the Pir Panjal range. The terrorists aim to take advantage of the space that the forceful redistribution has created. According to the Hindustan Times, Lieutenant General BS Jaswal (retd) stated, “Infiltrators are looking at using ingress routes into the Kashmir valley from this side, which is why the Jammu region is reporting more terror incidents.” The loss of five valiant Indian Army soldiers in a terrorist attack in Badnota, Kathua (J&K) pains me greatly.

Attacks in Jammu are rarer but bloodier

According to an Indian Express report, the country’s security forces are concerned that attacks in the Jammu region were fewer but of high impact, ultimately inflicting the biggest damage, even though Kashmir had a higher number of terrorist-initiated incidents and civilian casualties. Following the June 9 Reasi incident, Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd) claimed in an interview with India Today that the terrorists wanted to send a message that even though Prime Minister Modi has been boasting about the achievements of his government, he still has not taken control of Jammu and Kashmir. Lieutenant General Hasnain (Retd), a former General Officer Commanding 15 Corps (Srinagar), stated, “They want to convey a strategic message to the world, that while India speaks about all its success and achievements, it hasn’t got Jammu and Kashmir under control.”