The Army has decided to re-introduce cordon and search operations (CASO) as a "permanent feature" of its campaign against militants, nearly 15 years after the practice was abandoned. <br/><br/>News agency PTI reported that CASO will be carried out in a major way in militancy-hit areas of Kulgam, Pulwama, Tral, Budgam and Shopian in south Kashmir.<br/><br/>The Army had discontinued CASO following stiff opposition from the local population and after 2001 launched cordon and search operations only on specific intelligence-based inputs. The security establishment felt that CASO had alienated the local population from the armed forces due to difficulties people faced during such operations.<br/><br/>The armed forces had carried out a major operation involving 4,000 troops in south Kashmir last week to flush out militants, indicating a change in strategy. <br/>