Violence does not announce its return. It appears in moments that expose a weakness, exploit a gap and leave behind a question. The firing on security personnel in south Kashmir and the recovery of bodies two missing security personnel from a remote forested belt are not isolated episodes separated by geography. Together, they reveal a reality that cannot be ignored: terrorism may have weakened, but it has not disappeared.
For several years, official discourse has focused on indicators of improvement. Tourist arrivals have increased, economic activity has expanded and large-scale violence has declined. Yet security is not measured only by statistics. It is also measured by the ability to prevent a gunman from opening fire at a checkpoint and escaping. It is measured by the ability to ensure that personnel sent on duty reach their destination safely. When such incidents occur, they demand more than routine responses. They require an honest assessment of existing vulnerabilities.
The recent attacks reflect a change in method rather than intent. Small groups operating in limited numbers continue to rely on surprise, mobility and knowledge of terrain. Their objective is not territorial control. Their objective is to create uncertainty, challenge the security narrative and demonstrate that they retain the ability to strike. Every successful attack, irrespective of scale, is meant to carry a message far beyond the immediate target.
That message must be answered with results, not statements. The government’s priority should be to identify where the gaps lie. The attack on a checkpoint points toward the need for a review of deployment patterns, route security and surveillance coverage. The killing of SPO’s in a remote area raises questions about movement monitoring, communication systems and intelligence inputs. The answers will not emerge from press briefings. They will emerge from rigorous investigation and institutional self-examination.
The first requirement is stronger intelligence collection; most attacks are planned before they are executed. Suspicious movement, unfamiliar faces, logistical support and communication networks leave traces. Detecting those traces requires a combination of human intelligence and technological surveillance. Information gathered on the ground remains the most effective defence against those who seek to operate in secrecy.
The second requirement is integration among security agencies as terrorists exploit gaps in coordination. Information available to one agency must become information available to all. Real-time intelligence sharing, joint operational planning and unified threat assessments are no longer optional. They are essential.
The third requirement is attention to vulnerable regions that repeatedly surface in security assessments. Forested belts, transit corridors and isolated routes continue to provide opportunities for movement and concealment. Operations launched after an attack are necessary, but prevention demands persistent monitoring long before an incident occurs.
Equally important is public participation as sustainable security cannot be built through deployments alone. Local communities often possess information that never reaches official channels. Building trust between citizens and institutions creates conditions where suspicious activity is reported early and networks of support for violence find less space to survive.
The government must also ensure that personnel operating on the frontlines have access to modern equipment, reliable communications and adequate protection. Those tasked with securing difficult terrain should never be placed at a disadvantage because of avoidable shortcomings.
The latest incidents are a reminder that peace is not a permanent achievement. It is a process that requires constant effort. Complacency creates opportunities. Vigilance closes them. The challenge before the government is straightforward: identify weaknesses before those who seek to exploit them do. Stability will be protected not by declarations of success, but by the ability to prevent the next attack before it happens.