Terrorists infiltrating Jammu and Kashmir have reportedly been provided with advanced communication tools by the Pakistan Army, including a modified version of the Alpine Quest App. Originally designed as a navigation tool for trekkers, the app has been altered to assist terrorists in evading detection by security forces.

Sources indicate that the modified Alpine Quest App now includes critical data on security forces, checkpoints and patrolling routes, enabling terrorists to operate without relying on traditional support networks, such as Over Ground Workers (OGWs).

This shift in operational methods comes amid mounting pressure on OGWs due to intensified police actions. Authorities have enforced strict measures, including property attachments and the filing of cases under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), which have significantly reduced the support from OGWs. As a result, terrorists have resorted to utilising more covert and technologically advanced means to carry out their operations in the region.

The Alpine Quest App has enabled terrorists to navigate the rugged, mountainous terrain of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in remote and high-altitude regions where Over Ground Workers (OGWs) are less trusted and harder to access.

This marks the first documented use of such an app in the insurgency operations within the region. As the crackdown on OGWs intensifies, terrorists have become increasingly self-reliant, using the app for navigation while minimising their reliance on OGWs. In some cases, terrorists have limited their use of OGWs to logistical support, such as food delivery, while deliberately maintaining a distance to protect their exact locations from detection.

Terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir are also utilising encrypted ultra-radio communication devices, with servers located in Pakistan, to facilitate secure communication. These devices are specifically designed to prevent interception or decoding of their messages by security forces in real time, adding another layer of complexity to the efforts aimed at tracking and neutralising terror networks in the region.

In the past year, terrorist activities have been reported across multiple districts in Jammu, including Kathua, Udhampur, Kishtwar, Doda, Reasi, Poonch, and Rajouri, as well as parts of the Kashmir Valley. These operations have involved attacks on security forces, Village Defence Guards (VDGs), and pilgrims travelling to the Shiv Khori shrine, highlighting the persistent threat posed by the insurgent groups operating in the region.