By South Asia analyst Alastair Lawson

Defence officials in India are becoming increasingly concerned about frequent militant attacks on the camps of Indian security forces, which have taken place almost on a weekly basis since the summer.

The militants first began using the tactic in August. Prior to that it was seldom used throughout the decade long Kashmir insurgency.

Perhaps the most audacious raid on an army camp took place in November, when members of the Lashkar-e-Toyeba militant group forced their way inside the Indian army's headquarters in Srinagar.

Occupying a building within the premises, they killed seven soldiers including a senior public relations officer.

The army conceded that it was a serious breach of security.

Another such raid took place in December, when members of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen militant group raided the camp of the Special Task Force - the anti militancy wing of the police force - and killed twelve policemen.

The attack bore striking similarities to the November incident.

The militants forced their way into the camp and occupied a building within the premises.

Daring approach

Incidents similar to this have taken place throughout the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The most recent was on 12 January when militants stormed their way into an army camp in Khannabal, south of the summer capital Srinagar.

Commentators in Kashmir say that there are several reasons for the attacks.

They argue that militant groups such as Lashkar-e-Toyeba, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Hizbul Mujahideen are becoming more daring in their operation against the Indian security forces.

They say that while suicide attacks against the military are generally regarded to be un-Islamic, there are an increasing number of militants who want to become martyrs, and are in effect members of death squads.

Sources in Srinagar say that the more hardline approach adopted by the militant groups is across the board, and applies to groups that operate from bases inside Pakistan as well as groups that operate solely from within Indian administered Kashmir.

A demoralised force?

From the Indian army's point of view, it is difficult to prepare for such attacks.

A military spokesman said recently that it was virtually impossible to stop a determined group of militants from entering camps, even if security was significantly boosted.

Sources say that the militants have been buoyed by the recent hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane which culminated in the release of three militants in exchange for the release of over 150 passengers.

Commentators point out the attacks on the camps have contributed towards a siege mentality among the army in Kashmir.

More troops have been forced to guard bases in winter, normally a time of year when the security forces gain the upper hand in tracking down militants who are unable to return to bases in Pakistan because of heavy snow.