MANTRAYA ANALYSIS#71: 25 SEPTEMBER 2023 Role of Local Cadres in Militancy in Kashmir: Pattern & Trend Analysis BIBHU PRASAD ROUTRAY Abstract Sporadic militancy in Jammu & Kashmir continues to highlight the role played by the local cadres in keeping the region on a boil. While official data points to a declining recruitment pattern and a […]
MANTRAYA POLICY BRIEF#46: 06 MAY 2023 Terror attack in Poonch: Chinks in the Armour BIBHU PRASAD ROUTRAY They planned, infiltrated, attacked, and melted into thin air. The manhunt involving scores of soldiers, drones, and sniffer dogs for the perpetrators of the 20 April ambush on the army truck in the Tota Gali area of Bhata […]
MANTRAYA ANALYSIS#60: 11 OCTOBER 2022 State of Play: Lashkar-e-Taiba in Kashmir BIBHU PRASAD ROUTRAY ABSTRACT Terrorist violence in Jammu & Kashmir is decreasing. And yet, terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) continue their attempt to reverse the gains made by the security forces. Backing from the state sponsors in Pakistan, geopolitical changes in Afghanistan and […]
MANTRAYA ANALYSIS#51: 16 NOVEMBER 2020 Ending Militancy in Kashmir: Successes and Enduring Challenges Bibhu Prasad Routray Abstract Amid the Indian government’s continuing search for peace and stability in Kashmir, since the August 2019 decision to revoke Article 370 of the Indian constitution, security establishment in the union territory continue to face two primary challenges—home-grown militancy and […]
MANTRAYA POLICY BRIEF#34: 20 APRIL 2020 TRF and TMI: Lashkar-e-Toiba’s new tools in Kashmir Bibhu Prasad Routray Abstract In Kashmir, since the abrogation of Article 370, two new militant outfits have emerged to lay claim to a number of violent incidents. Both the TRF and the TMI also claim to represent the local Kashmiris. But […]
MANTRAYA POLICY BRIEF#33: 01 APRIL 2020 Islamic State in India: Wilayat-e-Hind Bibhu Prasad Routray Abstract The Islamic State and its affiliates have been expanding their activities in Africa and Afghanistan. However, similar attempts to find a foothold in India have not been successful till now. Months after Indian government’s August 2019 decision to revoke the […]
MANTRAYA POLICY BRIEF#30: 31 OCTOBER 2019 Death of Baghdadi: Specter of Radicalization & Violent Extremism Bibhu Prasad Routray – Abstract The killing of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been hailed as a success in dealing a death blow to the Islamic state leadership and organization. Despite such claims of early success of counter terrorism (CT) operations, […]
MANTRAYA POLICY BRIEF#28: 24 MAY 2019 Zakir Musa: Death of Kashmir’s loneliest Militant Bibhu Prasad Routray – Abstract Contrary to media headlines, Zakir Musa was not the ‘most wanted militant’ in Kashmir valley. With an aim to set up a caliphate, Musa led an immensely forgettable militancy, which had no stakeholders. His death, however, is a blow […]
MANTRAYA ANALYSIS#34: 26 FEBRUARY 2019 Pulwama Attack: The ‘game of chicken’ in India-Pakistan relations Bibhu Prasad Routray – Abstract Kashmir yet again captured media attention with the suicide attack by a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant on the security forces on 14 February that killed 40 personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force. On 26 February, New […]
MANTRAYA SPECIAL REPORT#14: 27 SEPTEMBER 2018 Islamic State in Kashmir: Black Flags and Black Shrouds – Bibhu Prasad Routray – Abstract As the Islamic State seeks to regain its diminishing clout to expand into new theatres, it appears to be making a desperate attempt to gain foothold in Kashmir, where internal dissent and an externally […]