After Burhan's death, Pakistan added 100 terrorists, still supports terrorism, says Indian official

Surgical strikes that India carried out and declared on September 29 have failed in deterring Pakistan from curbing its support to terrorism.

This is the assessment that has been shared at the very top.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a top official of the Union government said: "There is nothing we have picked up from the ground which shows Pakistan's support to terrorism has waned. If anything, the western neighbour is likely to intensify recruitment into terror groups to hurt us so as to avenge the shame they've been put to."

"Terrorists Ready to Infiltrate India"

"What we are seeing infact is more than 200 terrorists who still are prepared at various launch pads to infiltrate into India. One can say, in that sense, we have not achieved the required deterrence," he said. Quoting from a shared, inter-agency assessment, he said: "Following the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani, Pakistan managed to add about 100 terrorists to the existing count on ground in Jammu and Kashmir. Many of these are locals."

Between the Indian Army, the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the intelligence agencies, the data pertaining to the number of terrorists active in the state varies slightly. However, they all agree that the actual count of active terrorists on ground in the state is in excess of 300 at the very least.

The future course then, he said, rested on two fronts. First concerned the festive season in India when the security is stepped up. For terrorists, this would be an opportune moment to cause maximum hurt. The second aspect dealt with the directions Pakistan's army gave to "their assets already here".

India on Tight Vigil

"A tight vigil is being maintained across the country on suspected members of the sleeper cells. However, there are chances that terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir may attempt to slip into the hinterland to carry out attacks," he said. For Pakistan, keeping the pot boiling in Jammu and Kashmir, albeit with greater intensity will be easiest, most predictable option. "That is where they can deny matters and point to the locals. Elsewhere in India, they may end up exposing themselves," he said.

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