Recent arrests of militants have revealed that the ISI is trying to attract youths from the backward and downtrodden sections with job offers in both the areas.

Security officials say this change in trend is due to the unwillingness of Kashmiri youth to join militant ranks.This came to light with the recent arrest of a local youth, Ravi Kumar, a resident of Satwari, here by the 120 battalion of the BSF, and also the arrest of Manzoor Ahmad, a resident of Moradabad in UP by the Army in the Poonch sector.

Kumar was caught while trying to cross over to the other side. During interrogation, he revealed that recently he had gone on a visit to Punjab in search of a job. There he came in contact with some smugglers, who gave him the job of a courier.

Kumar was asked to smuggle narcotics from the R S Pura border, and on return asked to be aguide for militants by helping them cross over to this side and also to find safe hideouts for them.

The BSF has seized a paper from Kumar's possession which contains some contact names and addresses in Pakistan. The BSF officials feel these will lead them to more militants in the area.

These smugglers are believed to have links with militant organisations there and are motivating youths by giving them money. ``Motivating youths from the majority community seems to be their strategy. They realise that security forces will not suspect them,'' said a senior BSF official.

Most of these youths are in the 15-18 age-group. After indoctrination, they are sent in groups via Nepal to Pakistan. Many of these men operate in the Valley under the garb of preachers and businessmen. And they face no problems since they don't arose suspicion. He said the ISI was trying to give an impetus to narco-terrorism to fund militancy in the Valley and other parts of the Jammu region. In the Poonch sector, the Army apprehendedManzoor and seized large quantities of arms and ammunition. During interrogation, he disclosed that more than 120 boys from UP are undergoing training in PoK. Reports reveal that ISI agents are funding madrassas run by Deobandh School to motivate boys for a jehad against India.

Earlier this year the Special Operation Group of Police, Srinagar, had nabbed a Hizbul militant and recovered 1,200 books containing incriminating material. These books were published in Moradabad and were meant to be supplied to schools and colleges. These contained venomous language against India and Hindus.