There is a “crisis of leadership and resources” amongmilitants in Jammu and Kashmir and the security forces have kept them undercheck, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in Rajya Sabha on Monday.

Replying to supplementaries during the Question Hour, theminister said an NIA probe is on into the February 14 Pulwama attack. “Once theprobe is over, only then can an answer in this regard be given by the HomeMinistry,” he informed the House after members asked if there was anyintelligence or security lapse in the suicide attack in which 40 CRPF personnelwere killed.

“In Jammu and Kashmir, our security forces are maintainingbest coordination between the Army, central armed forces, JK Police andintelligence. He said the security forces have kept a check on activities ofthe militants. “I want to tell you that as of now, there is a crisis ofleadership and resources” among the militants, Singh told Rajya Sabha. He saidthe fatal casualties suffered by Army personnel during militantattacks/tactical action in 2018 were 12, while the same were 13 in 2017 and sixin 2016.

The minister said there are four types of casualties in theArmy – infiltration bids eliminated, counter insurgency operations, militantinitiated incidents and tactical actions.

He said the casualties he mentioned earlier pertained totactical actions and total casualties in other activities could be more.

Singh said all the forward posts are adequately strengthenedto withstand militant attacks. “Continuous improvements, including the use ofmodern technology, in the defences are made to make them more robust andresilient,” Singh said in his written reply.