Ahead of Muzaffarabad march, Pak plans to infiltrate LeT, JeM operatives into PoK protests: Report

Pakistan's military establishment is preparing to infiltrate Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) operatives into the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC)-led protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) ahead of the planned Muzaffarabad march, News18 reported.

According to the report, the Pakistan Army is planning to covertly embed operatives of the two Pakistan-based terror outfits within peaceful civilian demonstrations.

The alleged objective is to trigger violence, damage public property and provoke clashes with security forces, allowing the movement to be portrayed as a terror-linked campaign.

The report comes amid mounting unrest in PoK, where at least eight protesters were killed after Pakistan Rangers allegedly opened fire on demonstrators in Rawalakot and Sudhanoti ahead of Wednesday's mass march to Muzaffarabad.

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Plan to manufacture violence at peaceful protests

The Pakistani Army's strategy allegedly involves using the infiltrators to incite violence, vandalise public property or engage in confrontations with law enforcement personnel.

The resulting unrest could then be projected as evidence that the civilian rights movement has turned into an "anti-state terror plot", enabling the military to launch counter-terror operations against protesters.

Report said the establishment wants to recast the civilian movement as a security threat rather than a campaign seeking administrative accountability and economic reforms.

LeT, JeM networks remain active in PoK

Jaish-e-Mohammed and other Pakistan-backed terror groups continue to maintain infrastructure and operational freedom in areas such as Rawalakot and Muzaffarabad.

The Pakistan Army could also quietly facilitate pro-state and religious solidarity rallies led by hardline elements linked to these networks, report said. The presence of radicalised and armed proxies on the streets would not only heighten tensions but also pose a direct threat to JAAC supporters and civil society activists.

Bid to replace civilian demands with jihadi narrative

The JAAC movement has largely mobilised residents around issues of governance, administrative accountability, inflation and economic hardship.

However, report said the Pakistan Army plans to allow LeT and JeM-linked networks greater space in PoK's information ecosystem to shift attention away from these local grievances. The aim would be to replace the civilian narrative with pan-Islamist messaging and anti-India rhetoric, thereby undermining the credibility of the protest movement.

Such a shift would also make it easier for the establishment to portray the protests as being linked to extremist activities rather than genuine public discontent.

Proxy terror groups could target JAAC leadership

Report said that the Pakistan Army is considering using the deniable networks of LeT and JeM to intimidate, target or eliminate prominent JAAC organisers.

Using militant proxies instead of police or Rangers would allow the establishment to distance itself from any attacks or disappearances while avoiding immediate domestic backlash and international scrutiny.

If activists are targeted, responsibility could be deflected by attributing the incidents to militant rivalries, internal disputes or rogue actors, the report said.

Military could use unrest to justify larger deployment

The alleged plan would also provide the Pakistani Army with justification to further militarise civilian areas across PoK.

Under the cover of counter-terror operations and emergency security measures, the military could deploy additional Rangers, Frontier Corps personnel and other paramilitary forces across major population centres, tightening its control over the region as the protests continue.