How Brother of Kashmir’s First Suicide Bomber Hosted Top Lashkar Operative in Srinagar

Srinagar, India – In spring of 2000, a young man named Afaq Ahmad Shah became Kashmir’s first suicide bomber when he detonated a vehicle packed with explosives outside Indian Army’s XV Corps headquarters in Badami Bagh, killing two people and establishing a reign of terror in region’s ongoing insurgency. 

w, over two decades later, his bror, Masood Shah, has brought spotlight back to ir family’s ties with terrorism. Masood, a contractor in Srinagar, reportedly provided shelter to a high-ranking Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative, leading to a recent police operation that uncovered significant terrorist activity in heart of Srinagar.

LeT operative, kwn by code names Usman and Khalid, used Masood’s home as a covert base to coordinate operations and plan high-profile attacks, including recent killings of six workers and a doctor at Z-Morh tunnel project. Police investigations suggest that Usman assessed and recruited young men interested in joining jihad, facilitating resurgence of extremist networks in Kashmir. 

This incident highlights a disturbing trend among Kashmir’s jihadists, who are once again drawing attention through escalated activities. Despite India’s counter-insurgency efforts, militancy is far from quelled, with entrenched ties and familial legacies like Shah brors’ pointing to a deep-rooted ideological battle that shows little sign of abating. 

Pakistan ’s Political Messs Versus Ground Realities 

In recent months, Pakistan has publicly projected an im of seeking stability in region. Pakistan’s Finance Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar has hinted at possibility of resuming trade with India. se overtures attempt to project Pakistan’s mindfulness towards pressing need for peace, especially given ecomic constraints it faces. 

However, se diplomatic signals have been undercut by continuous infiltration attempts and escalating terrorist activity. Intelligence sources report that seasoned jihadists, many of whom fought alongside Taliban in Afghanistan, have crossed Line of Control (LoC) into Pir Panjal range and or areas.

se terrorists have engd in ambushes against Indian forces and targeted infrastructure projects intended to bolster Kashmir’s ecomy, including a recent assault on Indian civilians working on developmental initiatives. One such infiltration attempt near Jammu’s Akhor involved intense combat, resulting in death of three terrorists and highlighting level of sophistication and experience se fighters bring. Security analysts te that presence of se seasoned fighters signals an attempt by Pakistan-based groups to intensify conflict, hoping to exploit any emerging vulnerabilities in India’s security infrastructure. 

Back-Channel Diplomacy and India’s Stance 

Against backdrop of se ongoing tensions, former Indian military officials met with a Pakistani delegation in Thailand to discuss possible solutions to ease hostilities. According to sources, Pakistani side claimed that India’s support for separatists targeting China-Pakistan Ecomic Corridor (CPEC) was behind ir retaliatory stance in Kashmir. Pakistani officials proposed a back-channel negotiation process that would address ir Kashmir concerns and also reduce terrorist activity.

India, however, remains firm in its stance that substantive dialogue cant commence until terrorism is decisively curtailed. This position reflects New Delhi’s frustration with what it views as Pakistan’s ongoing ambivalence—condemning extremism publicly while allegedly allowing terrorist groups to operate from its territory. With Kashmir Valley already seeing rising levels of violence, any suggestion of diplomatic dialogue is fraught with complexity. According to South Asia Terrorism Portal, murders of civilians in Jammu and Kashmir have doubled in 2024, likely surpassing levels seen in three years following 2019 revocation of Kashmir’s special status. 

India's Extensive Counter-Terrorism Operations 

Since abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, India has undertaken extensive counter-terrorism operations to stabilize region. However, rise in civilian deaths and terrorist activity this year is a troubling indicator of entrenched challenges that persist. Security experts caution that while increased violence is t yet at catastrophic levels, it signals potential dangers that could destabilize region furr. continuing presence of skilled foreign fighters among local terrorists complicates efforts to root out extremism.

India’s efforts to counteract se trends w include significant investments in border surveillance and intelligence-garing, especially in regions where terrorist infiltration is recurrent. government has also bolstered its focus on infrastructure projects to provide ecomic opportunities in Kashmir, attempting to mitigate socio-ecomic factors that often fuel local support for militancy. 

As political tensions simmer between India and Pakistan, and back-channel efforts face significant hurdles, situation in Kashmir remains delicate. Indian policymakers are carefully monitoring developments, as security situation demands a delicate balance between strategic restraint and robust counter-terrorism measures to secure region.