In the news
On 20 October, seven people, including a doctor and six construction workers, were killed in a terrorist attack on the ongoing construction site of Z Morh tunnel in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir. The Resistance Front (TRF), affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the attack. 

On 20 October, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, said on X: "Very sad news of a dastardly & cowardly attack on non-local labourers at Gagangir in Sonamarg region. These people were working on a key infrastructure project in the area.”

On 20 October, the Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah said on X: “The dastardly terror attack on civilians in Gagangir, J&K, is a despicable act of cowardice. Those involved in this heinous act will not be spared and will face the harshest response from our security forces.”

Issues at large
First, targeted attack following a newly elected government in J&K. This was the second attack since the first elections took place in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. On 17 October, a dead migrant worker was in Shopian. With peaceful elections taking place a few days before, this was a move by TRF to establish itself in the region.  

Second, the difficulty of combating TRF. The TRF, an ally of LeT, has been active in the past few years. It has targeted migrant workers, Kashmiri pandits, and government employees as a part of its strategy to hinder peace and stability in the region. Although the security forces have conducted vast security operations to kill the terrorists, the TRF continues to operate and is a challenge to the security forces of the region. TRF is also known for being funded heavily and has a high recruitment rate.

Third, targeted attacks are on the rise. Targeted attacks on migrant workers have been on the rise for the past few years. The targets have been teachers, migrant workers, village councillors, policemen, and civilians. There has been a surge in targeted killings since the abrogation of the A-370, according to the South Asian Terrorism Portal. The surge has occurred in the Jammu region more than in Kashmir and has spread to other areas than Rajouri and Poonch, including Doda, Kathua, and Reasi.

Fourth, the Z-Morh tunnel project and its significance. The Z-Morh tunnel project is in the Gaganeer village of the Ganderbal district and is part of the Zoji-la tunnel project. It aims to provide all-weather connectivity to Sonamarg (a key tourist destination). Z-Morh tunnel is 6.4 kilometres long, which is crucial for connecting Sonamarg, which is mostly inaccessible during the winter due to heavy snow.

Fifth, targeted attacks on infrastructure projects. The attacks have targeted a critical infrastructural development project in the region, aiming to provide all-season connectivity to the Srinagar-Leh highway. The tunnel is instrumental for quick military access to Ladakh, the gateway to two strategic choke points, eastern Ladakh and the Siachen base camp with China and Pakistan. The government of India is undertaking several infrastructural projects in the region to enhance connectivity and access. This is a first-of-its-kind attack on the strategically key infrastructural project.
 
In perspective
First, another blow to restoring normalcy in the region. The attack has exposed the infrastructure projects to vulnerability in the region. This is a move to hinder peace and stability in the region, as the elections were peacefully conducted a few days ago. With heavy deployment of the security forces in the region, the terrorists have been able to retain. This challenges the security of other ongoing strategically crucial projects in the region.

Second, a challenge to the newly elected government. It will be challenging for the Omar Abdullah-led government to combat the terror attacks and operational outfits in the region. Terrorist outfits like TRF have reestablished themselves through violent means and will continue to do so. While the government has been able to provide security in the urban areas, rural and peripheral areas remain vulnerable to terrorism, demanding a need to combat terrorist networks.