Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants killed during the 28-hour gunfight in Rajouri’s Kalakote were battle-hardened and specifically trained in jungle warfare and employed technology and well-acquired skill to manoeuvre in tough terrain to survive the mountain range of the Pir Panjal range, comprising Rajouri and Poonch districts, according to official sources.
The sources said Pakistani LeT commander ‘Qari’ and his associate’s training level once again indicated at militants getting trained in jungle warfare. Earlier, militants, especially in Kashmir, were more trained in urban warfare and engaged the security forces in built up areas mostly. However, the recent week-long operation in south Kashmir’s Kokernag in September this year indicated militants preparing for jungle warfare. Four security personnel were killed in the encounter in the forest cover of Gadole in Kokernag.
“The slain terrorists seem to have been trained in Afghanistan and other countries,” Lt. General Upendra Dwivedi, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, said. He was speaking at the wreath laying ceremony of the five soldiers, including two Captains, who died in the Rajouri encounter on November 22-23.
