Army foils major JeM infiltration bid in J&K's Rajouri, captures Pakistani guide

A major infiltration attempt by heavily armed terrorists affiliated with the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) outfit was foiled by the Indian Army along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Gambhir area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Sunday. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the Army and the Border Security Force (BSF) launched a joint counter-infiltration operation in the Bhimber Gali sector, leading to the capture of one Pakistani national and disruption of the infiltration attempt.

According to a Defence official, vigilant troops detected the movement of four to five armed individuals attempting to exploit the rugged terrain and thick vegetation to cross the LoC. During the operation, one person was apprehended while the remaining infiltrators, suspected to be JeM operatives, were injured and forced to retreat under adverse weather conditions and dense foliage. A search operation was launched in the area following the encounter.

The captured individual has been identified as 22-year-old Mohammad Arib Ahmed, son of Mohammad Yousuf, a resident of Detote village in the Nikiyal area of Kotli district in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The official said Ahmed was acting as a guide for the group and was caught in a forward area. During initial interrogation, he confirmed he had been operating under the directions of Pakistan Army officers posted at forward locations near the LoC.

Security forces recovered a mobile phone, Pakistani currency, and other sensitive items from the area during the follow-up operation. According to the Defence official, the apprehended guide also disclosed that the JeM group was in possession of arms, ammunition, and other warlike stores, indicating the objective of the infiltration attempt.

The captured individual is currently under detailed questioning by a joint interrogation team. Officials stated that the information being gathered from him is expected to aid in strengthening the existing counter-infiltration measures along the border.