Jaish-E-Mohammed's affiliate claims rocket attack on army vehicle, 3 soldiers, 2 porters killed in Gulmarg

The People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), an affiliate of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), has claimed responsibility for a rocket attack targeting an Indian Army vehicle in Jammu & Kashmir’s Botapathri area near Gulmarg. PAFF released a video on social media showing a militant firing a rocket-propelled grenade from a forested location toward an army convoy. Security officials confirmed that the rocket landed a short distance from its target, sparing the vehicle from direct impact and averting what could have been a catastrophic loss of life and assets.

The attack, executed on Thursday, resulted in the deaths of three Indian soldiers and two civilian porters supporting army operations in the area. This marks the first known use of rocket-propelled grenades against the Indian Army in Kashmir in recent years, signaling an escalation in the arsenal of militant groups like PAFF. According to military sources, the impact would have been far more destructive had the rocket directly hit the vehicle, likely resulting in additional casualties and significant damage.

Investigations reveal that the PAFF group involved in this attack consists of four militants, including one local Kashmiri and three foreign nationals, believed to have crossed into India earlier this year. Security agencies suspect the group has been operating out of the forests in Baramulla district, using the rugged terrain to evade detection. Evidence left behind by the attackers suggests they returned to their hideout within the same forested region following the attack, complicating immediate counter-operations.

In response, the Indian Army has intensified search operations across Gulmarg, Tangmarg, and surrounding areas. Drones and helicopters have been deployed to survey the region, while additional checkpoints have been established to intercept any movement by the attackers. Reinforcements, including specialized paratroopers, are conducting ground searches to locate and eliminate the group, which poses a renewed threat to both military personnel and local residents.