Why South Kashmir’s dense forests are terrorists’ perfect hideout?

How Kashmir’s treacherous terrain helps terrorists evade security forces for weeks. Read more on Dynamite News

New Delhi: On April 22, terrorists carried out a horrific massacre in the Baisarnag Valley of Pahalgam. The terrorists brutally killed 26 tourists after asking about their religion. It has been 13 days since this terrorist incident, but the security forces have still not been able to catch these terrorists.

The army has conducted an extensive search operation, yet these terrorists are still out of the reach of the security forces. At present, it is feared that they are hiding in some inaccessible area of ​​​​South Kashmir, reports Dynamite News correspondent.

The question arises, why has this area become a hideout for terrorists? The dense forests and inaccessible hilly areas here have become ideal hiding places for terrorists. Thick forests surround districts like Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam, and Anantnag, which provide natural security cover to the terrorists.

It is easy to hide in hilly areas like Dorigund, Turkwangam, Renawari, Kachlu, Harwan, Frinzal, Shikhargah, Jainpura, and Kokernag because of the inaccessibility.

The Taral forest of South Kashmir is considered the most dangerous. This area has long been a refuge for terrorist organizations like Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba. The dense pine and deodar trees in these forests help the terrorists to hide naturally.

From the year 2000 to the next decade, the terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen made the forests of Shopian, Kulgam, and Anantnag their hideout. Terrorist leader Burhan Wani had also hidden in the woods of Anantnag and Taral many times.

Why is this area challenging for the army?

• Dense forests and deep valleys make military operations extremely difficult.
• Surveillance with drones is also difficult, as the dense shade of trees obstructs visibility.
• There is no mobile network or any kind of connectivity here, which hinders communication.
• It is arduous for vehicles to reach there due to a lack of footpaths and narrower roads.
• The area becomes even more dangerous during rain and snowfall, affecting the activities of the soldiers.

In short, these dense forests have served as a haven for terrorists for decades. These forests serve as a refuge for terrorists whenever the army conducts special or search operations against these despicable terrorists.

As is evident from recent developments, combating terrorists in these areas continues to pose a significant challenge for the security forces.