India’s intelligence agencies have issued an urgent “critical warning” of a planned winter terror offensive by Pakistan-backed terrorist organizations. The alert covers a wide swathe of northern India, including Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. This development is perceived as a direct response to India’s successful ‘Operation Sindoor’ in early 2025, which significantly crippled terror infrastructure. The threat also coincides with ongoing investigations into the “white-collar” terror module and a recent Delhi bombing.
Authorities anticipate a “long winter of terror” characterized by coordinated fidayeen assaults and drone-driven attacks. Intelligence reports indicate that Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) are reactivating sleeper cells following covert meetings held in October in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s Kotli region. These meetings allegedly involved ISI officials, Jamaat-e-Islami elements, and Hizbul Mujahideen commanders who are reportedly being compensated to avenge losses from Operation Sindoor.
Pakistan’s Border Action Teams (BATs), along with Special Services Group (SSG) commandos and handlers from LeT and JeM, are believed to be actively involved in the operational build-up. Terrorists are reportedly surveying the Line of Control (LoC) for potential infiltration routes for large-scale intrusions, aerial insertions of weapons, and impactful strikes against Indian security forces and political entities. The expanding narco-terror and arms smuggling channels through Punjab and Rajasthan are reportedly being utilized to fund these operations. Training is also being intensified for winter conditions to ensure operational continuity amidst heavy snowfall.
Infiltration attempts have seen a marked increase since September, pointing towards possible attacks in the “coming weeks” before winter weather impedes cross-border movement. The ISI is reportedly reactivating 15 terror camps in PoK to support these renewed hostilities. Crucially, Northern Command intelligence reveals a doubling of active terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, with 131 currently active, predominantly Pakistani nationals, supported by a robust terror ecosystem in regions like the Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal.
Despite ongoing counter-terrorism efforts, the infiltration of foreign terrorists has escalated. While 31 terrorists have been eliminated this year, including 21 Pakistani nationals, security forces and civilians have also sustained casualties. A significant emerging threat is the “white-collar” terror module, which involves radicalizing educated individuals into becoming operatives. Central agencies are expanding their probes into these newly exposed terror networks, linked to the JeM poster case and the Delhi blast. The security landscape in J&K is evolving, with the full depth of this new module yet to be determined. Notably, there has been no recruitment of local youth this year, suggesting a strategic shift towards recruiting educated urban populations. Security forces across India are on high alert, implementing enhanced surveillance and security measures in sensitive areas.
