Up till not too long ago, the scenic corridors of the Hafruda forest vary, lined with dense kail and pine timber, had been trodden solely by infiltrators. But with encounters or gunfights subsiding amid concerted efforts, tranquility is lastly again in sight.

Falling within the Shamshabari mountain vary, the stretch that connects Tanghdar, Keran and Nowgam sectors was typically used as a transit level by militants, particularly foreigners, to cross the Line of Control (LoC) earlier than transferring to Sopore, Bandipora or Srinagar. Now, there are not any extra hideouts within the forests.

The military’s patrol, nevertheless, are holding a detailed eye on the forests and receiving inputs about militant presence. Constant searches haven’t yielded any outcomes and locals are more and more starting to imagine that the inputs had been nothing however a hoax.

“The military went deep into the forests and likewise searched neighboring villages, however couldn’t discover something. This may have been false info,” a forest department employee said. “Today, the forests are without trouble. People venture deep inside without any fear. Even the patrol parties never trouble people anymore.”

With numbers of active militants in the Valley falling, officials say the months ahead could be crucial. “This is the time when infiltrators strike. The army units are keeping a close watch on the LoC and adjacent villages. Apart from electronic surveillance, the forces also rely on human inputs. So far things are normal here,” a military officer mentioned.

“The launching pads are nonetheless intact and that is the rationale the troopers are at all times on alert,” a military officer deployed in north Kashmir mentioned, including, “This yr additionally there have been makes an attempt of infiltration from throughout the LoC and lots of makes an attempt had been foiled. “

Notably, two infiltration bids were foiled in North Kashmir last month — in the Uri and Machil sectors. Security forces had also foiled similar bids and killed a militant near LoC in Tangdhar sector of Kupwara district in North Kashmir in March and February.

After the LoC ceasefire in 2021, the infiltration bids have come down in north Kashmir. However, drugs are still being smuggled regularly as per officials.

The months of June, July and August witness the maximum number of infiltration bids. Even many mountains in northern Kashmir that fall on the traditional infiltration routes are still covered under blankets of snow, officials fear heightened activity once it clears out.

Trekkers’ haven?

Trekkers en-route to the Bangus meadows also often use Hafruda and adjacent forests. “Earlier, people feared coming to the villages close to LoC especially, Hafruda, Hangankote, Phalmarg, Sharkote, Harduna as there were frequent checkpoints. Now, one can witness them stopping over for picnics and lunches,” Mohammad Ashraf of Harduna, a mason, mentioned.

The military additionally acknowledges the shift being felt throughout the Valley, with protection spokesman Colonel Emron Masuvi saying, “Infiltration had come down to almost zero this year.”