NEW DELHI: Deep inside the quiet village of Tehra Kalan, located in the Sarjal area of Shakargarh Tehsil, lies one of the most dangerous and deceptive terror infrastructure units currently active along the India-Pakistan border.
The Sarjal/Tehra Kalan facility, under the command of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and supported by Pakistan’s ISI, functions from the premises of a Primary Health Center (PHC) — a calculated move to conceal its true nature and evade international scrutiny.
Core Function: Main Launchpad for JeM Infiltration into India
- The Sarjal facility is barely 6 km from the International Border (IB) in the Samba sector of Jammu, making it a prime forward base for infiltration.
- It plays a central role in the construction and operation of underground tunnels dug into Indian territory, especially in the Arnia-Jammu sector, used by JeM to smuggle in militants.
- These tunnels, often uncovered by Indian security forces, have been linked directly to the handlers stationed at this facility.
Terror Infrastructure Hidden Behind a Health Facility
- The facility is disguised as a Primary Health Center, a tactic repeatedly used by JeM and Hizbul Mujahideen in Punjab province under ISI guidance.
- Of the buildings in the complex:
- 6–7 rooms near the entrance are run by genuine medical staff.
- Two residential quarters and a hall near the parking area are reserved exclusively for JeM operations.
- Typically, 20–25 terrorists reside here at any time, supervising cross-border infiltration, tunnel digging, drone ops, and encrypted communication.
Communications & Drone Warfare
- A dedicated control room within the facility is equipped with HF radio receivers and encrypted communication tools.
- It is used to relay instructions to infiltrated JeM and Hizbul terrorists inside J&K.
- The Sarjal base also serves as the launching pad for drone operations that airdrop arms, ammunition, and narcotics into Indian territory.
- JeM is also experimenting with drone-based infiltration—aerially dropping terrorists across the border, a tactic inspired by Hamas’s methods in the Middle East conflict zones.
Key Commanders Linked to the Facility
- Mohammad Adnan Ali @ Doctor
- Regularly operates from this PHC-linked facility.
- Imparted para-glider training to Khalistan Tiger Force’s Ramandeep Singh Goldy in Thailand (2014) under ISI orders.
- Designated individual terrorist under UAPA.
- Kashif Jan @ Ali Jan
- Mastermind of the 2016 Pathankot Air Force Station attack.
- Coordinated with the terrorists in real-time during the operation.
- Designated individual terrorist under UAPA.
- Shahid Latif (killed in 2023)
- Launching commander for the Pathankot attack, operated from Sarjal.
- Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar
- JeM’s de facto chief, supervises major operations from this command centre.
- Other Notable Operatives:
- Allah Baksh Musaib (nephew of JeM chief Masood Azhar)
- Muhammad Irfan Arif @ Ghuman – involved in BAT actions (Border Action Team)
- Waseem Noor Jutt – launching commander
- Abdul Rehman @ Bhai Jigar – deputy to Doctor Adnan
Role in Major Terror Incidents
- Pathankot Air Base Attack (2016): Planned and launched from this facility by Kashif Jan and Shahid Latif.
- Nagrota Encounter (Jan 2020): Terrorists neutralized by Indian forces had infiltrated from this facility.
- Drone Arms Drops & Tunnel Infiltrations (Ongoing): Most IB breaches trace back to Sarjal command.
International Designation & Status
- Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) was designated as a terrorist organization by:
- India (UAPA, October 2001)
- United Nations (October 2001)
- USA, UK (October 2001)
- Canada (November 2002)
- Australia (August 2015)
- UAE (November 2014)
- Masood Azhar, JeM founder, was designated under UN Security Council Resolution 1267 in May 2019.
Despite these sanctions, JeM continues to operate freely with ISI’s backing, using health infrastructure as cover and drone/tunnel tech as tools of modern asymmetric warfare.
