Heavy militarisation, mock drills raise fears of false flag in Kashmir
Srinagar: Indian forces and police conducted a large-scale multi-agency mock drill, widely described by locals as a “war drill”, in Parimpora and Maloora areas of Srinagar on Sunday, as part of intensified military preparations ahead of the annual Hindu Amarnath Yatra in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the drill involved paramilitary Central Armed Police Forces, Fire and Emergency Services, Health Department, State Disaster Response Force, Traffic Police and civil administration. It simulated high-risk scenarios including vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) attacks, stand-off firing, road traffic accidents and law and order disturbances.
Locals told media that such continuous drills across the Kashmir Valley and Jammu region under the garb of Amarnath Yatra security are actually war preparation exercises. They pointed out that Indian army officials have been frequently visiting the Line of Control and other sensitive areas, indicating that the BJP government may be preparing another false flag operation in the name of protecting yatris.
Kashmiris recall that during the peak of armed resistance when the entire valley was under control of mujahideen, no harm was ever done to any Hindu yatri. Yet the current BJP-led Indian government has intensified searches, restrictions and advanced military drills since May, which locals view as highly suspicious and dangerous.
Analysts say the Indian BJP government is deliberately communalising the Amarnath Yatra to push its Hindutva and Akhand Bharat agenda in the disputed territory. The Yatra is scheduled to begin on July 3, 2026.
In addition to the Srinagar drill, Indian forces have also conducted comprehensive high-altitude operational drills at 18 strategic snow-bound locations along the twin routes to the Amarnath cave shrine. Forty-five specialised Mountain Rescue Teams comprising personnel from Jammu and Kashmir Police, NDRF, SDRF and CRPF have been deployed along the 48-km Pahalgam and 14-km Baltal routes.
Rights observers and political analysts argue that these massive military exercises, deployment of advanced surveillance and repeated mock drills are less about pilgrim safety and more about tightening the occupation grip on Kashmir, creating an atmosphere of fear, and manufacturing pretexts for further repression against the Kashmiri people.
