Over 100 Kashmiri youths gone to Pakistan with visa goes missing
New Delhi : In the last three years, about 100 Kashmiri youths who have gone to Pakistan for a short period on valid visas have either not returned or gone missing. Due to this, security agencies have become alert. The agencies suspect that these youngsters are either indulging in terrorist activities from Pakistan or have become potential sleeper cells of terrorist groups.
Various security agencies told that security forces were alerted after five militants were killed in the jungles of the border area of North Kashmir’s Handwara in April last year when they came to know that one of these terrorists was a local citizen. Who went to Pakistan in the year 2018 and did not return after that.
Officials said that between April 1-6 last year, youths from Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag districts of South Kashmir were seen in infiltrating militant groups and they all went to Pakistan with valid documents. They never returned after this.
Officials said security agencies, including immigration officers and Delhi airport officials along the Wagah border, have been collecting information on Kashmiri youths traveling on valid visas for more than seven days for more than three years.
He said that Kashmiri youths who had gone to Pakistan in the last few years were called for questioning and security agencies analyzed their activities properly after their return. The security agencies asked the people visiting Pakistan the proper reason for their visit. The background of these people was examined and their background was confirmed at the smallest level.
Security agencies believe that six weeks of training is given to newcomers to join militant groups, but according to intelligence, some youths are taught how to make IEDs within a week with the help of readily available explosives.
The missing youth belong mainly to the middle class and are being described as the new face of terrorism in Kashmir. They are probably waiting for the weapons to arrive, which are unable to reach them due to strict vigilance on the Line of Control.
