J&K fears rise in attacks around Obama's visit

SRINAGAR: The Jammu & Kashmir police apprehend a rise in terror attacks in the Valley in the wake of US President Barack Obama's visit to New Delhi early next month, with the aim of grabbing international attention.

Soon after the Malroo encounter in which three Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists were killed, the operational chief of JeM, Sajjad Afgani, issued a threat saying the Army and other security installations in Kashmir would be targeted with fidayeen attacks. "We have kept six fidayeen ready for attacks," he said.

A senior police officer said there was evidence that JeM and Lashker-e-Taiba were planning joint operations and share their resources to take the Valley back into the lethal phase of militancy of the late 1980s and '90s.