The Deadly Threat of IED Smuggling from Pakistan to India

It was a sunny day in March 2019 when a team of Indian security forces was on a routine patrol in Pulwama district, Jammu and Kashmir. Suddenly, a loud explosion shook the ground, followed by a huge cloud of smoke and dust. The patrol vehicle had been hit by an improvised explosive device (IED), killing 40 Indian paramilitary soldiers and injuring many others.

The attack was later claimed by Jaish-e-Mohammed, a Pakistan-based terrorist group that has been accused of smuggling IEDs across the border and targeting Indian security forces and civilians. The use of IEDs has become a major security challenge in India, especially in the conflict zones of Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast India, where militants have often resorted to this cheap and deadly weapon of choice.

The Growing Menace of IEDs in India

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, there were 1,471 IED incidents in India between 2015 and 2019, resulting in the deaths of 481 security personnel and 348 civilians. This means that, on average, there were about two IED blasts every day in India during this period, causing not only human casualties but also economic losses and social disruptions.

• In June 2019, an IED blast in Imphal, Manipur, claimed the lives of two Assam Rifles personnel and injured four others. The blast damaged several shops, vehicles, and houses in the busy market area, causing panic and chaos.
• In August 2020, an IED blast in Sukma, Chhattisgarh, killed two CRPF personnel and injured three others. The blast occurred when the security forces were on a search operation in the Maoist-infested area.
• In November 2020, an IED blast in Handwara, Jammu and Kashmir, killed two army soldiers and a civilian. The blast targeted an army convoy and damaged several buildings and vehicles in the vicinity.

These are just a few examples of how IEDs have become a deadly threat to the security and stability of India. The use of IEDs not only creates fear and rage among the public but also poses a challenge to the counter-terrorism strategies of the government and the security forces.

The Nexus of IED Smuggling from Pakistan

While there are various sources of IEDs in India, including the illegal factories and workshops that produce them, a significant share of IEDs used in India is believed to come from Pakistan, especially the border regions of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Punjab.

The smuggling of IED components from Pakistan to India is a well-known fact among the intelligence agencies and the security forces. The IED components are often disguised as everyday items, such as fertilizers, batteries, wires, and circuit boards, and transported through various means, such as trucks, trains, and human carriers.

The modus operandi of IED smuggling from Pakistan involves not only the terrorist organizations but also the cross-border gangs and the trade networks that operate between the two countries, taking advantage of the porous borders and the corruption of the officials.

For example, in February 2019, a joint team of Indian security forces and customs officials seized a large consignment of IED components, including 57 kg of ammonium nitrate, from a truck at Salamabad trade facilitation center at Uri, Jammu and Kashmir. The consignment was meant to be smuggled into India by a Pakistan-based terrorist organization through the cross-LoC trade route, which was later suspended by the Indian government due to the misuse by the Pakistan-based groups.

Similarly, in October 2020, the Border Security Force (BSF) seized an IED-making factory in Punjab's Ferozepur sector, near the international border with Pakistan. The factory was operated by a gang of smugglers who used to get IED components from Pakistan and assemble them in India for supply to the terrorist groups. The BSF also arrested two smugglers and recovered large quantities of IED components, weapons, and drugs from the site.

The Need for a Comprehensive Approach to IED Threat Mitigation

The smuggling of IEDs from Pakistan to India is a complex challenge that requires a multi-dimensional response from the government, the security forces, the civil society, and the international community. Some of the key measures that can help mitigate the IED threat are:

• Strengthening the border security and the intelligence gathering capabilities to prevent IED smuggling and infiltration.
• Enhancing the technical expertise and the forensic capacity of the security forces to detect and defuse IEDs and to identify the perpetrators and the supply chains.
• Engaging with the local communities and the stakeholders to raise awareness and build resilience against the IED threat, and to address the socio-economic and political grievances that fuel the violence and extremism.

These measures need to be accompanied by a comprehensive framework of laws, policies, and institutions that ensure the effective implementation and accountability of the counter-IED efforts. Moreover, the international dimension of the IED threat, including the role of Pakistan in supporting and exporting terrorism, needs to be addressed through diplomatic, economic, and strategic levers.

The IED threat from Pakistan to India is not just a military or a security challenge, but a human problem that affects the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. By adopting a holistic and collaborative approach, we can reduce the risk and the impact of the IED threat and pave the way for a more peaceful and prosperous South Asia.

References:

• Ministry of Home Affairs: Annual Report 2017-18
• Times of India: Manipur IED Blast, 2019
• Indian Express: Chhattisgarh IED Blast, 2020
• Indian Express: Handwara IED Blast, 2020
• Economic Times: Salamabad IED Seizure, 2019
• NDTV: Punjab IED Factory Seizure, 2020

Hashtags: #IEDthreat #Pakistan #India #security #terrorism #border #smuggling #counterterrorism #STABILISE #SouthAsia

Category: Security & Defense