Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has reportedly launched a large-scale drive to induct retired Pakistani army and navy personnel into terror outfits targeting Jammu and Kashmir, according to intelligence officials. The tactical pivot is aimed at bypassing lengthy training cycles and rapidly restoring the operational capacity of groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen — all of which have struggled with recruitment shortfalls since Operation Sindoor.

Why the ISI Is Shifting Strategy

Following Operation Sindoor in May last year, the three principal terror outfits faced severe difficulties recruiting fresh cadres. Although recruitment has reportedly picked up pace since then, new recruits require extensive training before they can be considered deployment-ready — a bottleneck the ISI appears determined to eliminate.

'Former soldiers and commandos are the preferred choice. They are operation-ready and would require a bare minimum amount of training before they can be sent out to carry out terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir,' an intelligence official said.

By drawing on veterans who are already operationally experienced, the ISI can also bypass the radicalisation stage — such individuals, officials noted, may already have undergone extensive ideological conditioning during their years of military service, making them more readily deployable.

Scale and Structure of the Recruitment Drive

A second official said that while Pakistan has used former military personnel in terror operations before, the current drive is significantly larger in scale. The ISI, with the assistance of Pakistan's army, has reportedly been preparing a list of individuals who have retired or resigned from service, and is offering 'huge incentives' to those willing to join designated terror groups.

Once selected, these recruits are to be sent to launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). At present, terrorists at those launchpads are organised in batches of three — one each from JeM, LeT, and Hizbul Mujahideen. The ISI reportedly plans to embed one fully trained former soldier in each such batch to provide battlefield leadership and command.

'Such personnel could lead the attacks more effectively because of their experience. Having served in the field for several years, they are also familiar with the terrain and other logistical aspects involved,' an official said.

Lashkar-e-Taiba in Focus

Officials indicated the immediate focus of recruitment is the Lashkar-e-Taiba, which is described as currently better prepared than the other two outfits to execute operations in Jammu and Kashmir. The group has reportedly resolved its internal leadership disputes, with Talha Saeed — son of Hafiz Saeed — consolidating full control.

The former military personnel being recruited are also expected to impart training in terror tactics, fidayeen attack planning, and logistics management to other operatives in their batch.

The 26/11 Precedent

The strategy echoes patterns seen in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks of November 2008, which highlighted the extensive role allegedly played by Pakistan's military establishment. Individuals such as Major Iqbal were reportedly involved in training the attackers and were said to have been present alongside handlers in Karachi, providing instructions to the 10 terrorists who entered Mumbai. Officials characterised the current drive as part of Pakistan's long-standing 'bleeding by a thousand cuts' doctrine against India.

Near-Term Threat Assessment

An Intelligence Bureau official said Pakistan is not believed to be planning a major attack in the immediate future. However, the objective appears to be keeping terror groups fully operational and prepared to strike when required. With former soldiers providing both leadership and legitimacy within mixed-outfit batches, analysts warn the upgrade in capability — if confirmed — could mark a qualitative shift in the cross-border terror threat to Jammu and Kashmir.