Opinion | Narco-Terrorism in Kashmir: A New War on Youth

Now that Pakistan and its ISI can no longer destroy Kashmir’s youth with guns and bullets, they have turned to a more insidious weapon—narcotics. Their objective remains the same: destabilize the region, weaken its people, and keep Kashmir in turmoil.

Until 2018-19, Pakistan and its agencies primarily relied on radicalizing Kashmiri youth as a tool to destabilize the region. This strategy was alarmingly effective, and unfortunately, it yielded significant results for them. Since the 1990s, Pakistan extensively used radicalization and extremist propaganda to manipulate young minds, ultimately leading to the destruction of nearly four generations in Kashmir. One of the most sinister tactics employed was the glorification of terrorist funerals, which served as a psychological trap to lure more youths into militancy. The post-Burhan Wani era in 2016 saw 88 new militant recruitments, followed by 120 in 2017 and 191 in 2018. These young boys were systematically brainwashed, handed weapons, and pushed into the so-called “jihad”, becoming pawns in a larger geopolitical game. These figures reveal how deeply extremist ideology had taken root in Kashmir, serving Pakistan’s strategic interests. However, the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 marked a turning point. Security forces launched an aggressive crackdown on terror outfits, uprooting militant networks and silencing the voices of soft separatism, which had long echoed Pakistan’s propaganda. A zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism was enforced, finally putting an end to the bloodshed that had plagued the region for decades. Realizing that militancy was no longer a viable tool, Pakistan shifted its strategy, turning to narcotics as a new weapon to destroy Kashmir’s youth. With drugs flooding into the Valley, a new form of terrorism emerged, one that does not require guns but is equally, if not more, devastating. Since all trade and transactions with Pakistan remain suspended, and post-abrogation policies took a hardline stance against terrorism for the first time, the only avenue left to fund militancy was illegal trade—with narcotics emerging as the weapon of choice, giving rise to what we now term Narco-Terrorism.
How I Link Narcotics and Terrorism?
A common question that arises when discussing narco-terrorism is how drugs and terrorism are interconnected. Many people wonder how narcotics are smuggled across the border and used to fuel militant activities. Over the past ten days, I have delved into reports and case files that clearly establish this link—where arms, ammunition, narcotics, and cash were often seized from the same networks. One such case emerged in April 2022, when a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Baramulla filed a chargesheet against nine individuals—including three Pakistani handlers and six of their operatives in Kashmir. This case stemmed from a 2021 operation that led to the seizure of weapons, drugs, and ammunition, revealing a sophisticated cross-border smuggling network that supplied militants with both funds and arms. A month later, in May 2022, security forces, including 7 Rashtriya Rifles and local police, apprehended three individuals in Kupwara, including a woman, in possession of two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and seven kilograms of heroin. These contraband items were intended to be funneled into different parts of the Kashmir Valley to sustain militant activities. By June 2022, J&K police successfully dismantled a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) module that was laundering drug money to finance militancy. Alongside cash, authorities also recovered weapons, vehicles, and ammunition from those involved. Increasingly, drones have become a favored tool for smuggling drugs like opium and heroin across the border into J&K, making detection and interception even more challenging.
The inter-state nexus of drug cartels and terror financing—often orchestrated from Pakistan—has also come under scrutiny. In July 2022, J&K’s State Investigation Agency (SIA) filed a chargesheet against five individuals involved in terror financing, following the seizure of ₹43 lakh from a taxi heading to Kashmir in November 2021. This operation was allegedly spearheaded by Muzammil Ahmad Malik, a Pulwama resident, who was responsible for facilitating the movement of militants and managing funds received from individuals like Amarbir Singh, a Punjab-based operative. Singh reportedly had close ties with Baljinder Singh alias Billa Mandiala, a notorious arms and drug trafficker linked to over 23 criminal cases related to extortion and targeted killings. Even earlier, in December 2020, Delhi Police arrested five individuals, including three from Kashmir with links to Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) and two from Punjab, in a major narco-terrorism crackdown. Investigations pointed to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) collaborating with Khalistani extremists, establishing a “K-2 (Kashmir-Khalistan) desk” to further its proxy war. This network functioned through hawala transactions, leveraging overground workers (OGWs) in Kashmir to distribute drugs and route proceeds to terrorist cells operating within Punjab and J&K. The growing evidence underscores a well-coordinated effort to use narcotics as both a financial tool and a weapon of psychological warfare, with devastating consequences for Kashmir’s youth. Pakistan’s persistent attempts to destabilize Jammu and Kashmir, especially after the August 2019 constitutional reforms, are deeply tied to its long-standing proxy war against India. In a September 1994 interview with The Washington Post, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif openly admitted to using narcotics as a funding source for banned anti-India organizations. Despite numerous changes in leadership over the years, Pakistan’s reliance on this illicit financing model remains largely unchanged.
The Repercussions and Implications
Reports indicate that over 52,000 individuals in Jammu and Kashmir are now dependent on narcotics, with heroin being the primary substance of abuse. Beyond its severe national security implications, this crisis has triggered a full-blown public health emergency. The alarming rise in drug addiction is not just destroying individual lives but also tearing apart families and communities, pushing an entire generation into despair. With youth falling into this vicious cycle, their ability to pursue education, secure employment, and contribute to the economy is severely compromised. This not only weakens the region’s social fabric but also creates a vulnerable population that can be easily exploited by extremist elements, perpetuating instability in the Valley. Now that Pakistan and its ISI can no longer destroy Kashmir’s youth with guns and bullets, they have turned to a more insidious weapon—narcotics. Their objective remains the same: destabilize the region, weaken its people, and keep Kashmir in turmoil. They harbour no sympathy for Kashmiris, only a greedy ambition for the land and its resources, much like what we witness in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) today. By pushing drugs into Kashmir, they seek to cripple an entire generation, ensuring that the youth remain trapped in addiction, unable to resist their larger agenda of chaos and control.
Government Initiatives and Policy Measures
Addressing the escalating drug abuse in Jammu and Kashmir requires a multifaceted approach that combines stringent law enforcement with robust soft-power initiatives. While security forces have effectively suppressed terrorist activities, it is equally essential to bolster efforts aimed at curbing and eventually eradicating substance abuse across the region. The drug trade’s direct links to terrorism necessitate comprehensive strategies that encompass prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. Rehabilitation programs, such as those at the Drug De-Addiction and Treatment Centre at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital in Srinagar, should be expanded and replicated, particularly in rural areas. This facility has seen a significant increase in patient registrations, with numbers rising from 23,403 between April 2021 and March 2022 to 41,110 the following year, and reaching 56,844 from April 2023 to March 2024. Establishing more centers will provide individuals struggling with addiction access to counseling and support, facilitating their reintegration into mainstream society. In March 2021, the Jammu and Kashmir government allocated ₹10 crore for drug rehabilitation as part of the annual budget. This initiative led to the establishment of counseling centers across all districts and the organization of seminars to raise awareness about the drug menace. Additionally, under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction, rehabilitation facilities have been set up in 10 out of 14 districts. On September 1, 2022, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha launched the Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyaan. He commended the ‘zero tolerance’ policy of the state police and the anti-narcotics task force, highlighting recent substantial drug seizures as evidence of the policy’s effectiveness. Sinha emphasized that this campaign focuses on fostering a healthy and disciplined youth, bringing together regulatory agencies, law enforcement, NGOs, and healthcare providers to collaboratively work towards a drug-free Jammu and Kashmir. Maintaining vigilant surveillance by state and central security forces is crucial to dismantle the nexus between inter-state criminals and Pakistan-sponsored terror modules. A sustained, collaborative effort involving government agencies, healthcare institutions, and community organizations is imperative to effectively combat the drug menace and safeguard the future of Jammu and Kashmir’s youth.
The Writer is a student activist and can be reached at soulofkashmir1@gmail.com