Militants in J&K use Pak SIM cards

SRINAGAR: Security forces in Kashmir have a new worry. Pakistani militants are now using Pak-make SIM cards to communicate with each other as the mobile signals from Pakistan are being easily received in some border areas of Kashmir.

Two SIM cards of Telenor, a service provider in Pakistan, were seized from the slain Jaish-e-Mohommad militants in Batanaar, Kooligam in Kupwara district in February last. “There were reports of some seizures but I do not have exact information.

Anyway, it is not the only communication system that militants are relying on. They have other means. Besides, the terror infrastructure is intact in Pakistan,” said SM Sahai, IGP Kashmir.

Militants crossing into Kashmir prefer to carry these SIM cards because security agencies are unable to track the system. What makes things complicated is that the signals can be received deep inside the borders areas in Kashmir, making it easy for the infiltrators to communicate with their mentors across. Most SIM cards are post-paid and the bills are being cleared by the handlers in Pakistan, which is another headache for the security forces.

With no mechanism to trace calls made through international service providers, the security agencies are in a fix. Although jammers have already been installed at some places, they have not been able to prevent militants from using Pak-made SIM cards.
When contacted, AK Mital, general manager (mobiles) BSNL, said it is a security matter under the purview of the security forces. “We are concerned only for our own network”, he said.

h_ishfaq@dnaindia.net