Intelligence agencies have concluded that Lashkar-e-Tayiba (LeT) is systematically reviving its old Kashmir playbook — deploying proxies, arming operatives with concealable pistols, and deliberately targeting civilians — following two terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir within a span of ten days. Both the attack at Anantnag and the subsequent strike at Kulgam are, according to officials, the handiwork of LeT's proxy outfit The Resistance Front (TRF).

The Attacks and the Pattern

The two attacks, separated by just over a week, share a clear operational signature, officials say. The Kulgam attack targeted migrant workers — a deliberate callback to an earlier LeT tactic of singling out non-locals to instil fear and drive them out of Jammu and Kashmir. Notably, the Kulgam strike occurred just two days after terrorist-backed channels circulated threat messages and hit lists naming Kashmiri Pandits, minorities, and migrant workers.

Security officials stress these are not isolated incidents. “They clearly have a pattern to it,” an official said, pointing to the coordinated timing and target selection as evidence of a deliberate strategic shift by LeT.

The Operative Named Latif

Agencies are closely probing the role of a Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative identified only as Latif in both attacks. According to investigators, Latif had previously worked alongside LeT commander Zakir Ganai, carrying out strikes in Anantnag, Shopian, and Kulgam. Ganai was subsequently killed in a security forces operation at Kulgam, but Latif evaded capture.

An Intelligence Bureau official said Latif conducted these attacks to signal that his network remains active and relevant in the Valley. He is reportedly maintaining a low profile to avoid detection while planning a series of low-intensity hit-and-run strikes across South Kashmir.

The Cover Name and Diversion Tactics

Following the Anantnag attack, a social media post attributed responsibility to a previously unknown group called the United Liberation Council. Investigators, however, dismissed this as a deliberate attempt by LeT to divert attention from The Resistance Front and distance itself from the attacks. Officials say LeT is now actively pushing new proxy names so that scrutiny stays away from TRF, which has drawn significant counter-terror attention in recent years.

Pistols Over AK-47s: The New Operational Doctrine

A significant tactical shift has also been observed in LeT's weapons strategy. According to officials, the outfit has instructed its operatives to carry pistols rather than the AK-47 — traditionally the weapon of choice. Pistols are easier to conceal and attract less scrutiny, making it harder for security agencies to intercept operatives before an attack.

Compounding this challenge is a new recruitment model. LeT is reportedly scouting for individuals with no prior criminal records, deploying them for a single attack before they disappear from the radar. Officials say this ‘one-and-done’ approach is designed to create confusion and make tracking extremely difficult.

Civilians and Security Personnel in the Crosshairs

While civilians — particularly non-locals and minorities — are the primary targets, officials confirm that security personnel are also in LeT’s sights. In the Anantnag attack, Head Constable Hussain, 35, a resident of Budgam district, was killed while guarding the Amarnath Yatra. His killing fits a long-standing LeT pattern of targeting local Kashmiris who join the police or paramilitary forces — individuals the outfit has repeatedly warned to abandon their posts.

Officials say the overarching aim is to make a large psychological impact through a sustained series of low-profile strikes, exploiting gaps in civilian security coverage rather than attempting to breach heavily fortified installations or Army camps. With LeT’s recruitment drive reportedly gaining momentum off the back of these attacks, security agencies are bracing for further incidents across South Kashmir.