Former Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh on Saturday, 12 September said that while India had completed the legal process by issuing a fresh non-bailable warrant against Pakistan-based terrorist Hafiz Saeed, Islamabad was unlikely to cooperate in handing him over. Speaking from Jammu, Singh also addressed the recovery of terrorist remains and weapons in Doda and the fresh threat letters issued to Kashmiri Pandits, calling for heightened vigilance across the region.

Pakistan 'shielding' Hafiz Saeed, says former Deputy CM

Singh alleged that Pakistan had been providing active protection to Hafiz Saeed and would not be in a position to cooperate with India's legal action against the designated terrorist. He acknowledged that issuing a warrant was a 'good step' but stressed that its practical outcome hinged entirely on Pakistan's willingness to extradite Saeed — a possibility he described as 'remote' under the prevailing circumstances.

The former Deputy Chief Minister pointed to Pakistan's growing international isolation, noting that the country was under considerable diplomatic pressure. Referring to Operation Sindoor, Singh said India had successfully targeted terrorist hideouts during the operation, although Hafiz Saeed reportedly survived. Indian security agencies, he added, continued to act against terror networks regardless.

Doda recovery exposes Pakistan's infiltration push

Reacting to the recovery of the remains of a terrorist linked to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and an M4 rifle equipped with night-vision capability in Doda, Singh said local recruitment into terrorist organisations in Kashmir had seen a notable decline in recent times. As a result, he argued, Pakistan was now attempting to push trained infiltrators into Jammu and Kashmir to sustain the narrative that terrorist activities had not been eliminated.

Security forces were conducting sustained operations across forests and remote areas to locate and neutralise hiding terrorists, according to Singh. He also highlighted intensified action against overground workers — the civilian networks that reportedly provide logistical support to active terrorists.

Threat letters to Kashmiri Pandits spark concern

On the fresh threat letters targeting Kashmiri Pandits, Singh said security agencies were treating the matter with the utmost seriousness. Vigilance had been stepped up following the threats, he said, adding that the letters could reflect 'frustration' among terrorist outfits whose operational space had been squeezed.

He stressed that both the Centre and the Union Territory administration were fully prepared to deal with any potential threat against the Kashmiri Pandit community. With strengthened security arrangements in place, Singh expressed confidence that terrorists would find it increasingly difficult to carry out large-scale activities.

Broader security outlook

Singh underscored that the Doda operation, combined with previous actions across Kashmir, demonstrated that security agencies were systematically dismantling terror networks and their support infrastructure. This comes amid a period of heightened tension following Operation Sindoor and a broader Indian strategy of maintaining sustained counter-terror pressure across Jammu and Kashmir. The former Deputy Chief Minister said the Union and J&K governments were also preparing specific measures to address threats against Kashmiri Pandits, though he did not elaborate on details.