New Delhi, Sep 16 (NationPress) Security measures along the India-Pakistan border have reached unprecedented levels following the Pahalgam attack. This situation intensified further after India executed Operation Sindoor, aiming to retaliate for the Pahalgam attack that resulted in the tragic loss of 26 innocent lives.

The increased security has made it exceedingly difficult for terrorists from Pakistan to infiltrate the region. Additionally, these groups face significant challenges in smuggling arms and ammunition intended for use in Jammu and Kashmir.

The ISI has now reactivated its clandestine modules within India, urging them to function from secluded areas to develop ammunition or explosives. This initiative mirrors the infamous Burdwan module in West Bengal, which was dismantled by authorities back in 2014.

The ISI is considering deploying similar modules nationwide, believing this approach will facilitate quicker and safer delivery of arms to its operatives in Jammu and Kashmir and beyond.

Intelligence intercepts indicate that smaller production units for arms and ammunition are being organized throughout the country. Agencies have recommended that state police work closely with central agencies to monitor and dismantle these modules. Any lapses could lead to the establishment of numerous small units capable of producing vast quantities of arms and ammunition.

The ISI's main objective is to navigate the obstacles it faces at the Line of Control (LoC) due to heightened security. Initially, it circumvented these challenges by utilizing the border with Punjab to smuggle in drugs, arms, and ammunition. When these manual routes were obstructed, Pakistan resorted to drones for delivering narcotics, funds, and weapons. Once these items reached Punjab, they were then transported to Jammu and Kashmir, where they were also intended for Khalistani terrorists operating in the region.

Nonetheless, advancements in technology have enabled Indian agencies to largely mitigate this threat.

Faced with numerous restrictions, the ISI has devised a plan to establish small-scale arms manufacturing units. The financial support for these operations is expected to be funneled through covert channels. Authorities report that the ISI heavily relies on the hawala route to transfer funds to its operatives in India, with a significant amount of this financing originating from Gulf nations.

Officials emphasize the importance of identifying such units; thus, coordination between state and central agencies is critical. Although these units can emerge rapidly, it is vital to thwart their attempts to produce arms and ammunition.

The task at hand for security agencies becomes increasingly complex, as these factories are likely to be established in remote locations, deliberately chosen to evade public scrutiny. This tactic previously succeeded for terror groups in Burdwan, where bomb-making facilities operated discreetly as cottage industries. Firecracker manufacturing units were repurposed to create bombs, which went unnoticed by law enforcement.

After the dismantling of the Burdwan module, authorities discovered thousands of bombs had been produced, with many being manufactured by the Jamaat ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) under the directive of the Jamaat-e-Islami, which was plotting a series of attacks in Bangladesh to instigate regime change.

While the ISI’s new initiative shares similarities in terms of infrastructure and secrecy, its ultimate goal is to execute blasts within the country and ensure a reliable supply chain of arms and ammunition to Jammu and Kashmir.