The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday asked Amarnath Yatra pilgrims and tourists in Kashmir to “immediately” curtail their stay and leave the valley.
In an advisory, issued by the state’s home department, it cited intelligence inputs about terror threats.
“Keeping in view the latest intelligence inputs of terror threats, with specific targeting of the Amarnath Yatra, and given the prevailing security situation in the Kashmir Valley, in the interest of safety and security of the tourists and Amarnath Yatris, it is advised that they may curtail their stay in the valley immediately and take necessary measures to return as soon as possible,” the state government said.
The advisory was put out shortly after the Army and the Jammu and Kashmir police, in a joint press conference, said there were “confirmed intelligence reports” that terrorists backed by the Pakistan army were trying to disrupt the Amarnath Yatra.
Mines and ammunition recovered along the route had confirmed the “direct involvement of the Pakistan Army”, they said.
A landmine with Pakistan ordnance factory markings and an M-24 American sniper rifle with a telescope had been found along the route of the annual pilgrimage to the Hindu cave shrine around 140 km from Srinagar.
“In the last three-four days, there were confirmed intelligence reports that terrorists backed by Pakistan and its army is trying to disrupt Amarnath Yatra and based on that a thorough search was conducted. We had major successes in these searches,” said Chinar Corps Commander Lt General KJS Dhillon.
He also said, “Type of IEDs we are examining and the IED expert terrorists we are capturing and eliminating point to the fact that Pakistan is trying to disrupt peace in Kashmir. We assure ‘awaam’ of Kashmir that no one will be allowed to disrupt peace.”
Lt General KJS Dhillon: Type of IEDs we are examining and the IED expert terrorists we are capturing and eliminating point to the fact that Pakistan is trying to disrupt peace in Kashmir. We assure ‘awaam’ of Kashmir that no one will be allowed to disrupt peace. https://t.co/RUXmnqyV0B
— ANI (@ANI) August 2, 2019
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“The searches are still going on. The Pakistan Army is desperate to disrupt peace. This will not be allowed to happen. No one can be allowed to disrupt the peace,” said Lt General Dhillon.
Over the past few days, the movement of central paramilitary personnel who are being airdropped in sorties has fueled speculation about security threats in Kashmir.
Some 10,000 central personnel were ordered to the state about a week ago and reports suggest more have been sent since then.
On Thursday, the centre reportedly sent over 25,000 more troops to Kashmir, fueling speculation that something major was afoot.