Intelligence agencies have flagged a significant surge in terrorist activity across the Line of Control (LoC) in the months leading to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people. According to officials, between December 2024 and March 2025, over 120 armed terrorists gathered every month at launch pads opposite Jammu and Kashmir, waiting to infiltrate India.
This figure marks a steep rise from the 40-50 terrorists observed in the same period the previous year. In December 2024, 167 terrorists were positioned across the LoC, followed by 146 in January, 138 in February, and 122 in March, as per intelligence inputs.
Officials say the Pakistan Army and its intelligence agency, ISI, ramped up terror operations during this period, especially through Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its proxy, The Resistance Front (TRF), which later claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack. The attack coincided with the visit of US Vice President JD Vance to India, further escalating concerns.
Sources believe 55-60 Pakistani terrorists may have already infiltrated and are hiding in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir. The terrorists were instructed to carry out regular shootings, Border Action Team (BAT) operations — involving joint raids by Pakistani soldiers and terrorists — and improvised explosive device (IED) attacks.
In light of the April 22 incident, the Border Security Force (BSF) and Indian Army have been ordered to intensify checks for infiltration tunnels. These may include deep, concealed tunnels beneath trenches, potentially capable of sending both terrorists and regular Pakistani troops into Indian territory.
A 2020-discovered tunnel was found to be 500 metres long and 30 metres deep, equipped with an oxygen pipe for infiltrators. Similar tunnels were used in high-profile attacks such as the 2019 Pulwama bombing and the 2016 Nagrota camp assault.
Pakistan is reportedly using ex-servicemen and properties near the border to aid tunnel construction, and tall elephant grass is being deliberately cultivated to hide movement. Nearly 80% of terrorists at launch pads belong to LeT, while others are affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammad and Al-Badr.
Despite 22 tunnels having been discovered since 2001, officials warn that many more could exist, posing a persistent threat amid renewed hostilities along the LoC.
