The 22 July terror attack in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, has exposed what security and intelligence officials describe as a coordinated, covert effort to rebuild both militancy and separatism in the Kashmir Valley — the first major strike since the Pahalgam massacre of last year that killed 26 tourists. The killing of head constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi, 45, who was on Amarnath Yatra security duty, has triggered the most sweeping crackdown in the region in recent months.

Scale of the Crackdown

Security and intelligence agencies have detained more than 2,500 persons across Kashmir since the attack, according to officials. The heaviest action was concentrated in the southern districts: Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian, and Anantnag together accounted for 700 detentions. In Srinagar, around 700 persons were rounded up. Budgam saw 200 detentions, Baramulla recorded 178, Ganderbal saw 100, and Sopore recorded 70.

Officials clarified that not all those detained were directly involved in terror activities. Many are being questioned to identify additional suspects and map the broader network.

The Network Behind the Attack

According to officials, the network allegedly working to revive terror infrastructure comprised former militants, overground workers (OGWs), separatist operatives, and stone pelters. Intelligence inputs indicate these elements had been deliberately lying low — staying off the radar — while quietly rebuilding their structures. 'The idea was to silently rebuild while also carrying out smaller attacks in the Valley,' officials said.

The 22 July attack was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), which officials describe as a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba that presents itself as an indigenous militant outfit. Officials allege TRF's strategy is to maximise local recruitment so that attacks can be portrayed as the work of home-grown militants, masking cross-border involvement.

The Separatism Threat

An Intelligence Bureau official said the attempt to revive separatism is the larger concern. 'This is a bigger threat than a single terror attack. Separatism changes the narrative, fuels violence and eventually leads to stone pelting, which the Valley witnessed frequently in the past,' the official said.

Officials allege that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has been funding separatist operatives to influence and radicalise local youth, with the stated aim of building a home-grown terror ecosystem that sustains militant activities over time. 'ISI has been making sustained efforts to revive separatism in Jammu and Kashmir, viewing it as a key component of its strategy in the region,' officials said.

Context: Post-Pahalgam Security Gains Under Pressure

Following the Pahalgam attack, security forces had largely kept terror groups on the defensive, foiling multiple attempts at fresh strikes. A significant portion of the overground support network had been dismantled. However, officials acknowledge this remains a continuous process, with new networks emerging every few months.

Notably, this is the first major successful attack since Pahalgam, suggesting that despite sustained pressure, elements within the Valley retained the capacity and intent to strike. Officials say the post-Anantnag investigations have revealed the scale of that residual capacity was larger than previously assessed.

What Comes Next

Security agencies say dismantling the OGW network and acting against separatist elements remain twin priorities. The focus on separatist operatives reflects an assessment that radicalisation of youth — rather than cross-border infiltration alone — now poses a structural threat to stability in Jammu and Kashmir. Operations are ongoing, with officials signalling that the crackdown will continue until the revived infrastructure is fully neutralised.