Joint forces comb Amarnath routes

Srinagar: A senior Army commander on Friday said that the Pakistan Army was “directly involved” in militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, which had become evident again after the recovery of weapons with its markings in counter-insurgency operations in the state.

Lt. Gen. Dhillon said joint teams of security forces have been conducting search operations along the twin routes of Baltal and Pahalgam leading to the 3,888-feet-high cave-shrine in the Himalayas and recovered weapons, ammunition and explosives.

The J&K government had on Wednesday announced suspension of the yatra till August 4, saying the IMD has predicted heavy rainfall for the next few days all over the state.

The security advisory issued by J&K’s principal secretary (home) Shaleen Kabra on Friday reads: “Keeping in view the latest intelligence inputs of terror threats with specific targeting of the Amarnath yatra, and given the prevailing security situation in the Kashmir Valley, in the interest of safety and security of tourists and Amarnath yatris, it is advised they may curtail their stay in the Valley immediately and take necessary measures to return as soon as possible.”