Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Dec 1: The Border Security Force (BSF) on Monday said infiltration along the Line of Control (LoC) has “declined sharply” this year owing to tighter coordination and proactive intelligence sharing with the Indian Army. He, however, added that narco-terrorism and “white-collar” radicalisation emerge as new fronts in internal security challenges.
Speaking at the Annual Press Meet 2024–25 at the BSF Frontier Headquarters in Humhama, IG Kashmir Frontier Ashok Yadav (IPS) said the frontier’s counter-infiltration grid and joint operations have ensured a near-record low in cross-border intrusions.
“Only four infiltration attempts were reported this year. Thirteen infiltrators were involved, eight were neutralised, and five pushed back,” Yadav said. He added that the drop reflects “better synergy, quicker intelligence response and ground-level coordination”.
Over ‘White-Collar’ radicalisation and the silent challenge, the IG said a new pattern of radicalisation has emerged, where educated youths with clean records are being lured into ideological and logistical support roles. “These individuals don’t appear on our radar or in security databases. It’s silent recruitment, harder to detect and therefore more dangerous,” he said.
He said all security agencies have intensified efforts to trace such modules and identify institutions or social circuits used for indoctrination. “It’s a serious internal threat, and we are working closely with J&K Police and intelligence agencies to dismantle such networks,” he said.
Calling narco-terrorism “a hybrid threat that targets both the mind and the system,” Yadav said attempts to smuggle narcotics into Kashmir have increased, particularly along the Tangdhar and Keran sectors. “Drugs are being used to fund terrorism and to weaken Kashmiri youth. Every such attempt is tracked and neutralised through layered surveillance and local coordination,” he said.
The IG said that “female couriers” have been intercepted along LoC roads, and Mahila Praharis have been strategically deployed at choke points to counter this emerging tactic.
He said that last year, BSF carried out 22 joint operations with the Army, RR, JKP and CRPF, recovering large quantities of arms, ammunition and explosives. The frontier, he added, has also supported 13 companies in the hinterland for anti-terror and anti-radicalisation roles.
Yadav said BSF continues to “dominate the LoC effectively in coordination with the Army”, adding that border vigilance and internal intelligence sharing are the backbone of Kashmir Frontier’s success.
Beyond operations, the IG underlined the BSF’s civic action programmes under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, Bharat Darshan tours for border students, and pre-recruitment training for local youth. “We believe in making border communities our partners in peace and national security,” he said.
Yadav added that BSF played a vital role in ensuring an incident-free Amarnath Yatra 2025, deploying 128 companies across four districts with special rescue and medical teams.
