Central Home Secretary to Lead High-Level Security Review Meeting on Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu, March 23: Central Home Secretary Govind Mohan will preside over a high-level security review meeting on Jammu and Kashmir via video conferencing on Monday.

The meeting is set to begin at 2:30 PM and will include Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, DGP Nalin Prabhat, senior officials from the police headquarters, and both Inspectors General from the Kashmir and Jammu divisions.

This will be the first high-level review of the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir since the killing of four top terrorists, including Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) commander Saifullah, in the upper areas of Kishtwar district last month.

Sources indicate that there are suspicions of some foreign terrorists hiding in the mountains and forests of the Union Territory, particularly in the Jammu region. The meeting will review strategies to intensify anti-terrorism operations, especially as the summer season approaches.

The Ministry of Home Affairs aims for security agencies to take robust action against hidden terrorists. In addition to the army and paramilitary forces, specially trained Special Operations Group (SOG) personnel have been deployed in the mountains, forests, and upper regions where terrorists are suspected to be hiding.

SOG personnel are well-trained to conduct anti-terrorism operations in extremely challenging terrains and adverse weather conditions.

The underground network of terrorists remains a significant concern for security agencies. Once this network is dismantled, the existence of terrorists will be jeopardized, and efforts are underway in this direction.

Reports suggest that some underground terrorist networks have already been exposed, and police are close to dismantling other such groups. The meeting will also focus on reviewing the financial situation of Jammu and Kashmir as a key agenda item.

Sources indicate that discussions will include the budget expenditure for the current fiscal year 2025-26, with only ten days remaining, as well as considerations for police requirements for 2026-27. The Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat’s budget is now directly funded by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Jammu and Kashmir police are now an equipped force with modern weapons and tools, capable of addressing terrorism and all forms of crime.

However, sources note that the modernization process is still ongoing, with several steps being taken in this direction. The meeting will also address follow-up actions from previous meetings led by Home Minister Amit Shah and Home Secretary Govind Mohan.

It is noteworthy that Amit Shah visited the Jammu region from February 5 to 7, where he chaired high-level security review and development meetings.

Under the revised strategy, the Jammu and Kashmir police and security forces are targeting terrorists, their aides, and supporters to completely eliminate the terrorist support system in the Union Territory.

Drug traffickers and individuals involved in hawala rackets are also under the surveillance of security forces, as it is believed that funds from these activities are ultimately used to finance terrorism.