Despite relentless assaults from separatist groups in Kashmir, small successes tell us that security forces, the Army and the CRPF are getting a hang of the ongoing unrest, writes Jai Kumar Verma
June 16 was another bloody Friday in Kashmir valley, where six police personnel including a Station House Officer were martyred and two civilians who were obstructing the security forces along with an unruly mob were killed, while several stone pelters were injured. The lashker-e-Tayyeba (leT), which took the responsibility of the ambush and killing of police personnel, also took their arms and ammunition. Nonetheless, the forces achieved grand success by exterminating Junaid Mattoo, a senior commander of the leT in a fierce encounter.
Civilians, including a young boy, were killed when security forces surrounded Junaid Mattoo and his accomplice in a village in south Kashmir on specific intelligence about the presence of the terrorists. Junaid had a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head and was one of the most wanted terrorists in Kashmir. The separatists instantaneously announced about the location of encounter to their paid stooges who immediately collected at the encounter site with the ulterior motive of creating chaos.
Security forces tried to disperse the mob but as the crowd was organised by the paid lackeys of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan, the protesters refused to disperse and that resulted in the death of two civilians. It is the strategy of the separatists that the demonstrators disturb the security forces up to the extent that they open fire and kill, which keeps the valley boiling.
The same happened on June 16, when separatist leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Yasin Malik and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq gave a strike call and at several places protesters fought with Security Forces.
The security forces have adopted a multi-pronged strategy to finish Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in the valley. First, Jammu & Kashmir Police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Army have initiated vigorous cordon and search operations (CASO) in the valley. As three or more forces jointly launched the CASO, there is no dearth of manpower. Because of more force, the stone pelters and demonstrators could not over-power the Security Forces and the terrorists were unable to escape the dragnet of the security forces.
Besides eliminating hardcore terrorists, the security forces are also successfully exposing the support agents who provide shelter to terrorists, assist them in recce of the target areas and also work as guides. These support agents also hide arms and ammunition of the terrorists.
On the one hand, security forces are obliterating terrorists in the valley. On the other hand, they have enhanced the patrol on the borders and have been equipped with several latest equipment. In the past, Pakistani troops gave cover to terrorists through firing guns and mortars which distracted Indian security forces — but now when Pakistani troops fire, the Indian forces retaliate with more force and it makes the infiltration difficult.
Once Pakistani troops fire, Indian security personnel enhance the patrol, and in most of the cases either exterminate the infiltrators or compel them to return back. According to reports, large numbers of terrorists are waiting in Pakistan to infiltrate as the military-controlled ISI is realising that the number of hardcore terrorists in Kashmir is dwindling very fast.
The brave soldiers of the Indian Army gave a forceful message to Pakistan last September, when they entered into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and killed about 50 Pakistanis, including terrorists, their trainers and guides. Although the surgical strike was on terror launch pads, it was apparent that the present Indian political leadership can take bold decisions.
The backbone of the secessionist movement in Kashmir is the financial assistance received by Kashmiri separatists from abroad, including Pakistan and a few other Muslim countries. The separatists are giving a part of this ill-gotten money to Kashmiri youth for anti-India demonstrations, shouting pro-Pakistan slogans and stone-pelting. Nonetheless, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is probing the sources of financial assistance to Hurriyat leaders. Several top separatist leaders have settled their family members outside Kashmir. The Government has provided them with security and they receive money from abroad and lead secessionist movements. The Government should withdraw such security cover.
The long-term measures adopted by the security forces have started giving results. Few separatists have surrendered; very less people participated in the death procession of Sabzar Ahmad Bhat, who was the successor to Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. Several thousand Kashmiri youths participated in recruitment of J&K police and few hundred Kashmiris appeared in Army’s entrance examination defying the call of separatists. Kashmiris secretly providing actionable intelligence against terrorists to the security forces led to the elimination of terrorists such as Sabzar Ahmad and Burhan Wani — the important Hizbul Mujahideen operatives.
Pakistan-sponsored separatists have transformed the Kashmir movement from an independence movement to an Islamic movement. Now mosques are being vigorously used for anti-India, pro-Islamist propaganda. Political leaders as well as Union and State Governments must bring the Sufi culture back in Kashmir. The evicted Hindus, Sikhs and secular Muslims should be persuaded to return to their hometowns. Former servicemen should be settled in the border areas and Imams who are allowing separatists to use mosques for their propaganda, should be penalised.
The ruling party should immediately start a debate on the revocation of Article 370 and the political parties who oppose the repeal on flimsy grounds must be exposed to the Indian voters so that all nationalist Indians realise that these elements not want the Kashmir problem to be resolved because of vested interests. Article 370 is the biggest impediment in settling Kashmir matter. It is discriminatory.
Both Minister for Home Affairs Rajnath Singh and BJP president Amit Shah, at different places, emphatically mentioned that the Government had chalked out a long-term plan and that the Kashmir problem would be resolved permanently at the earliest.
The Modi Government must continue with its long-term stringent policies, and there is no need to negotiate with separatist leaders as they work for Pakistan and will never allow peace and tranquility in Kashmir. The security forces will soon exterminate hardcore terrorists. Once the new terrorists fail to infiltrate, the low-grade terrorists would surrender and peace would be restored. Once peace prevails in the valley, separatists, so-called human right activists, religious leaders spreading hatred towards other religions, pro-Pakistan and anti-India elements — must all be dealt with stringently under the law.
The Government should also have a detailed plan of the development of the State; its tourism industry, which is the main employment generator, must be developed further. The production of fruits and dry fruits is in shambles and needs massive investment. The Government must infuse funds in it so that the younger generation gets employment and desists from participating in demonstrations and stone-pelting.
(The writer is a Delhi-based strategic affairs analyst)