NEW DELHI: “The cost of neutralising around 200 terrorists in the Valley is huge. In contrast, Pakistan is spending just a pittance for propaganda. It has adopted a two-pronged strategy in J&K—huge funds for separatists and recruiting fresh jihadis, and small change to buy public sympathy,” said a top intelligence source.
The FIF and ISI dispatched Rs 9.4 lakh in June to the Valley to be distributed among families of eight local terrorists, nine arrested suspects and local leaders. In Shopian and Pulwama districts, agencies tracked over Rs 17 lakh moving through hawala.
In April, Rs 4.24 lakh was sent to a recruiter in South Kashmir—a key Hizb-ul-Mujahideen player. The recipients of Rs 11 lakh that arrived in January are being investigated. “The money came in two instalments through cash couriers and was perhaps broken into smaller amounts,” sources added.