Recent militant attacks in J&K tell the story
At a time when there is renewed talk of the removal — partial or complete — of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from Jammu & Kashmir, the attack by militants on a police establishment in Kathua district and in Samba in the State on two consecutive days, should be seen as a warning to those who are eager to adopt knee-jerk solutions like the AFSPA’s revocation. The security situation in the State is clearly not normal, and it is anybody’s guess how effective the Army can be there without the protective shield the Act provides to its personnel deployed to maintain peace and confront armed militants, local and from across the border. While a joint team of the police, the Central Reserve Police Force and the Army neutralised the two militants in Kathua, three security personnel and two civilians were killed in the fidayeen attack; in Samba, two militants were killed.
This and other militant strikes in recent months go to show that the time is not ripe to remove the AFSPA. Yes, there can be discussions on a roadmap for the Act’s withdrawal over a period of time, and that too from areas in the State that have seen relative peace or have not been targeted by the militants. The Bharatiya Janata Party, which is part of the coalition Government in the State led by the Peoples Democratic Party chief Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, has always maintained that ground realities must determine a decision on the matter, and that the removal of the AFSPA cannot be made an issue to score political points. It is good that Chief Minister Sayeed has strongly condemned the Kathua attack, warning elements behind the crime that “the will of the people cannot be weakened by any gun.” He added, “I want to send them a message that they should not create any hurdle (in the path of peace).” But his message will not carry conviction if his party’s leaders continue to berate the Act. While it is true that the Mufti has consistently maintained his opposition to the continuation of the Act in the State, reiterating even after the recent militant strike, that “we will try to start the gradual process of scrapping the AFSPA”, it would be advisable for him to ask his people to tone down their vehement criticism.
Meanwhile, responsible politicians in the State must stop using the Act as a platform to seek political mileage. It is disgusting to see these people exploiting an issue of utmost national security and sovereignty, for petty political ends. For instance, former Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has expressed his ‘disappointment’ at having failed to revoke the AFSPA during his tenure. Clearly, he does not want to be left behind in the anti-AFSPA game that suits the separatists and the militants more than the ordinary citizen of the State. The Act is applicable in Jammu & Kashmir not because Union Governments have loved the legislation but because it is needed. The AFSPA should go when the time is ripe for it to be repealed.