This is the first militant attack on a key infrastructure project in Jammu and Kashmir. Here’s why the Z-Morh tunnel project is important.

By M S Nazki

To attack terrorism, firstly attack the ignorance which is the greatest source of terrorism! Attack the ignorance worldwide because ignorance often creates sick minds!

-Strike and disappear are the tactics that are usually followed by the terrorists! In the Ganderbal attack the same thing happened!

• I heard it a long time back, terrorism is adamant. Fighting requires endurance, specific Counter-terrorism, Intelligence and swift operation! That is what we are doing but the issue at hand is that how terrorists manage to pull off a deadly strike?

-The Gandhebal was one of the deadliest in recent times!

-Although the terrorists who did will be hunted down but the damage they have already done!

-In a few words we will put it across this way, the flames are silent, peace is violent, tears are frozen and cause massacre was chosen!

-The story in brief:

-Scores of workers live in the area of the shooting as they have taken up the ongoing construction work on the Z-Morh tunnel and widening of the highway.

-Seven civilians — a local doctor and six non-local workers — were killed in a militant attack at a construction site in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal.

-Official sources said unknown gunmen turned up near the campsite of a private company in Ganderbal’s Gagangeer area in the evening and opened indiscriminate firing.

-Construction of the strategic Z-Morh tunnel and widening of the highway are under way in the area, which is close to the tourist destination of Sonamarg.

-The deceased have been identified as Gurmeet Singh from Gurdaspur in Punjab, Dr. Shahnawaz of Budgam, Anil Kumar Shukla, Faheem Nazir, Shashi Abrol, Mohd Hanief and Kaleem.

-The number of attackers could not be ascertained immediately. Official sources said senior police officers, including Inspector General of Police V.K. Birdi, reached the spot and were investigating the matter to establish the sequence of events.

-Two days ago, a non-local worker was killed in south Kashmir’s -Shopian.

-TRF claims responsibility for attack: The Resistance Front (TRF), an affiliate of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the attack. Unconfirmed reports suggest that an INSAS rifle was left behind at the scene, raising suspicions that the terrorists may have fled or are hiding nearby. A large-scale search operation is underway, with the Assam Rifles, CRPF, and the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) involved. Senior police officers, including the Director General of Police (DGP) and Inspector General of Police (IGP), are overseeing the efforts.

Terrorists identified: According to reports, authorities have identified two suspects in the attack: Hurera, reportedly returned from Pakistan, and Khubaib. Both are believed to be moving between Ganderbal and Harwan. Security forces remain on high alert as search operations continue.

-What is the Z-Morh project in Kashmir?

-This is the first militant attack on a key infrastructure project in Jammu and Kashmir. Here’s why the Z-Morh tunnel project is important.

-The Z-Morh tunnel is a 6.4-kilometer tunnel connecting the Sonamarg health resort with Kangan town in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. The tunnel has been constructed near Gagangir village ahead of Sonamarg. The tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity to Sonamarg, a famous tourist destination on the Srinagar-Leh highway.

-The tunnel has acquired its name for the Z-shaped road stretch at the place where the tunnel is being constructed.

-The stretch where the tunnel is under construction is situated at an altitude of over 8,500 feet, and is prone to snow avalanches in the winter. The road to Sonamarg as such remains closed for most part of the winter.

-The tunnel project was originally conceived by the Border Roads Organisation in 2012. The Border Roads Organisation awarded the construction contract to Tunnelway Ltd. However, the project was later taken over by the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL). The NHIDCL retendered the tunnel project and the contract was bagged by APCO Infratech, which executed the project through a special purpose vehicle, APCO-Shri Amarnathji Tunnel Private Limited.

-While the project was expected to be completed by August 2023, it was delayed. The soft-opening of the tunnel was carried out in February this year. While the tunnel project is almost complete, its inauguration was delayed by the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in place because of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.

-What is the strategic importance of the Z-Morh tunnel?

-The Z-Morh tunnel is part of the Zojila tunnel project that aims to provide all weather connectivity from Srinagar to Ladakh throughout the year.

-While the tunnel would give all-weather connectivity to Sonamarg health resort in the Valley, it is essential for all-weather connectivity to Ladakh. This is important, as it would provide quick access for military personnel to the border areas of Ladakh. While the construction of the Zojilla tunnel at an altitude of approximately 12,000 feet connecting Sonamarg in Kashmir valley to Drass in Ladakh is under way and is expected to be completed by December 2026, the opening of the Z-Morh tunnel is essential for its all-weather connectivity.

-The construction of the tunnel will provide safe connectivity between Srinagar, Dras, Kargil and Leh regions. The Indian defence forces are deployed against Pakistan in Siachen Glacier and in the Turtuk sub sector, which abuts Baltistan in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Similarly, there is widespread Indian Army deployment against Chinese forces in Eastern Ladakh, which has increased manifold after the 2020 face off with Chinese troops.

-All-weather road connectivity will lessen the dependence of air maintenance of the forward locations of the Army through the transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force. The transportation of troops and supplies will be done by road and this will lead to lesser expenditure on the use of aircraft and also increasing the life of the aircraft

In short, a ver important project!