New Delhi, September 24
Security forces stationed in Jammu and Kashmir are preparing ground to launch an all-out offensive against the mercenaries and militants holed up in different parts of the disturbed state.

With reports of Pakistan wanting to wash its hands off the mercenaries and militants in Jammu and Kashmir and also closing down training camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), there is likelihood that the Indian security forces, especially the Army, could launch an offensive against them for a final blow.

Senior defence officials here do not rule out this possibility as with the pressure from the USA on one side and the increasing differences between the Pakistani regime and the Taliban on the other, the mercenaries here are finding themselves not only isolated but also without any directions to proceed in Jammu and Kashmir. They see the launching of an offensive in the state as a logical conclusion to the present situation.

The military intelligence intercepts here are pointing to confusion prevailing not only among the militants but also within the Pakistan military regime. Panic is said to be more within the Pakistani regime as it is trying hard to detach itself from any possible terrorist links that might emerge and invite the wrath of the USA, which has sworn to take action against any country supporting terrorists.

Defence officials here see the situation improving for India in Jammu and Kashmir. The extensive US pressure and its open propaganda on terrorism has had an effect which would be of help to India. More so as the encouragement and directions from Pakistan is no longer available to the mercenaries.

Military intelligence (MI) intercepts point to Pakistan not only dismantling terrorist training camps in PoK but also instructing the mercenaries to move out of Jammu and Kashmir and join forces in Afghanistan.

Although it was still not clear whether these instructions were with an idea to bolster the strength of the Taliban forces, yet the intercepts indicated that the Pakistani army was ready to provide an escort to all those willing to move out.

Officials said there were two routes available to the mercenaries and militants wanting to leave, one leading directly to Afghanistan and the other through PoK. Pakistan was willing to provide protection to those militants who take the route through PoK.

However, there were also apprehensions among the Indian security forces about militants trying to sneak into India to seek a hiding place. With Pakistan shutting down training camps overnight the surveillance along the Indo-Pakistan border had been increased to check this possibility.

Officials said this had been done under extreme US pressure and the militants were now moving out of PoK. There were, however, still no indications of any exfilteration from Jammu and Kashmir. Full impact of these developments would, however, be known in the coming weeks, they said.

As of now there is a noticeable decline in the number of incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, which the officials said was indicative of lack of support to terrorists from Pakistan. From over 40 incidents a week the number of incidents have come down to between 10 to 12 now.

There are intelligence inputs of increase in differences between Pakistani regime and the Taliban forces. As a result, Pakistan is expected to pull out its about 1,000 army regulars from Afghanistan.

At present there are about 5,000 Pakistanis fighting alongside the Taliban forces. Of these about 1,000 are Pakistani army regulars, who are expected to be brought back.