Experts Claim Pakistan Shifted Focus From PoK Through Kashmir Terror Attack Narrative
Experts link attack narrative to PoK diversion claims.
A migrant worker was killed and another injured after terrorists opened fire in the Kellam area of South Kashmir's Kulgam district on Friday evening, marking the first attack on migrant labourers in the region in four years. Security forces have launched a massive search operation to track down the attackers, who fled the scene under the cover of darkness. Preliminary reports indicate that the Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), is suspected to be behind the attack, although there has been no official confirmation.
According to initial reports, the attackers targeted the two migrant workers shortly after sundown before escaping from the area. Police and security personnel quickly reached the site, cordoned off the locality and initiated a combing operation. The injured worker was shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. Authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of the victims or their state of origin. Officials said investigations are underway and further details will be shared after preliminary findings are verified.
The incident is the second targeted killing reported in the Kashmir Valley since July 22 and the first attack specifically targeting migrant workers in South Kashmir after a gap of four years. Attacks on migrant labourers have previously raised concerns among security agencies because of their potential to create fear among non-local workers employed in construction, horticulture and other sectors across the Valley. Security arrangements have been strengthened in vulnerable areas following the latest incident.
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The attack comes amid heightened political and security tensions in the region. Some security analysts cited by Indian media have argued that the timing of the attack coincides with reports of growing public discontent in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and suggested that militant violence in Kashmir has historically intensified during periods of domestic unrest across the Line of Control. These assessments represent the views of analysts and have not been independently verified. Pakistan has not commented on these specific claims.
The Resistance Front has been linked by Indian security agencies to several attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years. Indian authorities describe the group as a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, an allegation that Pakistan denies. The outfit has been named in multiple investigations into targeted killings and attacks on civilians and security personnel, although responsibility for individual incidents is established through ongoing investigations and intelligence assessments.
Security agencies continue to search the area for the attackers while investigators gather forensic evidence and question witnesses. Additional forces have been deployed across parts of South Kashmir as a precautionary measure to prevent further incidents. Officials have urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security personnel as the investigation progresses. The attack is expected to feature prominently in upcoming security reviews, with authorities focusing on preventing further targeted violence and ensuring the safety of civilians, including migrant workers living and working in the Valley.
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