Pakistan uses drug traffickers to smuggle arms to terror groups in J&K

Pakistan-based terror mentors use drug peddlers not only to fund terrorist groups but also to smuggle arms into this part of Jammu and Kashmir to support terrorism.

The arms and ammunition recovered from two narco-terrorists arrested by the Kupwara police on Saturday were meant for terrorists active in north Kashmir and were smuggled with the help of notorious drug peddlers from that region.

Sources said that during preliminary interrogations, the arrested drug traffickers told police that they were given money to traffic weapons laced with narcotics.

A narcoterrorist module dismantled in the Karnah region

Jammu and Kashmir Police and Army on Saturday busted a narcoterrorist network in Karnah in north Kashmir's Kupwar district by apprehending three persons and recovering a large quantity of heroin, explosives and weapons.

Karnah is located on the Line of Control in North Kashmir and Pakistan-based terrorist mentors are using this region to smuggle narcotics and arms to support terrorist groups active in Kashmir.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kupwara Shobhit Saxena briefed the media about this significant development and said that terrorism and narcotics are interconnected and work hand in hand, complementing each other in a vicious cycle.

“Terrorist organizations use drug trafficking as an important source of financing their activities, providing them with the resources necessary to carry out their nefarious plans,” he added.

Sharing details, SSP Kupwara said that acting on a specific input, a joint team of Jammu and Kashmir Police and Army laid a trap in Karnah and arrested two persons, namely Shafeeq Ahmad Sheikh , son of the late Mohammad Shafi Sheikh, resident of Khawarparab Karnah and Tariq Ahmad. Malik, son of Ghulam Ahmad Malik, resident of Baghballa, with around 500 g of heroin.

Further investigation led to the arrest of Parvez Ahmed Pathan, a resident of Sadhpura, who was found in possession of three pistols, 76 pistol cartridges, six pistol magazines and around five kilograms of explosives presumed.

An FIR has been registered at Kupwara police station and further investigation is underway to dismantle the narcoterrorist network.

Terrorist groups using drug traffickers

The SSP said narcoterrorism aims to create an environment conducive to terrorist activities. Terrorist groups have established links with drug traffickers and use them to perpetuate their nefarious activities.

“Narcoterrorism poses a huge threat to peace in the UT as it funds terrorist/secessionist activities, thereby perpetuating instability. As has been proven, young people influenced by drugs are more likely to be radicalized and recruited by terrorist organizations, leading to a cycle of violence and extremism,” he said.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police reaffirms its commitment to a zero tolerance policy against terrorism and narco-terrorism, he reiterated.

LG asks for ATRs from DCs and SSPs to fight drug abuse

During a security review meeting, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha sought action taken report from Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) to combat the menace of drug abuse in their respective districts.

Sinha on Saturday chaired a high-level meeting on the security situation and also reviewed the progress of various development projects of the Kashmir division.

The Lieutenant Governor directed the civil and police administration to work in close coordination with security agencies to neutralize the terrorist ecosystem. He said those who aid and abet terrorists and their ecosystem should not be spared.