J&K Records Zero Stone-Throwing in 2025, Local Terror Recruitment Falls to One

Jammu and Kashmir recorded no stone-throwing incidents through 2025 and saw local terrorist recruitment fall to a single individual — the lowest figure on record — according to the Ministry of Defence's 2025-26 Annual Report.

The decline in local recruitment has been sharp and sustained. Against 146 youths joining terror ranks in 2021 and 121 in 2022, the numbers dropped to 19 in 2023, four in 2024 and just one in 2025. The ministry described the trend as the most significant indicator of the changing security environment, noting that young people in the Union Territory are turning increasingly to government welfare and employment schemes instead of violence.

Sustained counter-terror operations, a tightened security grid along the Line of Control and the Centre's development push were cited as factors that have brought the situation firmly under control. The report, however, cautioned that the region remains unpredictable, while noting that stability improved after Director General of Military Operations-level talks between India and Pakistan on May 10 and 12, 2025.

Infiltration attempts foiled

Six infiltration attempts were reported during the year, all of which were thwarted, with 12 Pakistani terrorists eliminated. That marks a decline from 18 attempts in 2023 and 10 in 2024. The report flags a tactical shift, with Pakistan-backed groups increasingly using sectors along the International Border to push in infiltrators and to smuggle narcotics and weapons.

In the hinterland, security forces kept up high-tempo operations and neutralised 19 terrorists, including eight Pakistani nationals — close to 40 per cent of the total — which the report reads as a pointer to continued cross-border involvement in fuelling terrorism.

Ceasefire violations rise

After three years of near-total calm, the LoC witnessed 163 ceasefire violations in 2025, against two in 2024, none in 2023 and one in 2022. Of these, 124 occurred during Operation Sindoor. The tally nonetheless remains far below the levels recorded in 2019 (3,223) and 2020 (4,645).

Tourism holds up

Despite the Pahalgam terror attack, the region drew a record 2.3 crore tourists in 2025, including 4.13 lakh Amarnath pilgrims — a sign, the report said, of public confidence and a return to normalcy.

Taken together, the absence of street violence, negligible local recruitment, fewer infiltration bids and a booming tourism season point to a new normal in Jammu and Kashmir, the report concluded.