Countering locals joining militancy Rakshak News 05 Apr 18
A recent press report stated that the number of youth joining militancy in 2017 was 126, a sharp increase from 88 in 2016. This was the highest in the last seven years. The figures began to rise after the violent summer of 2016, post the elimination of Burhan Wani. From 2010 to 2015, the militancy had very few local militants, dominated and controlled by Pak locals.
A surprise new entrant into the militant fold has been Junaid Ashraf Khan, a management graduate and son of top separatist leader, Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai, who recently replaced Sayed Ali Shah Geelani as chairman of the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat party. His father claims he joined militancy because he could not tolerate injustice anymore. This is the first time a family member of the Hurriyat has joined militant ranks. It may motivate many more, who considered the Hurriyat leadership as being self-serving, keeping their kith and kin well educated and in safe employment.
This changing trend of increased locals including educated youth joining militants ranks has security forces seeking to develop effective strategies to counter it. Reports mention ideological conviction is much stronger at present than in previous years. There is a rising concern of pan-Islamisation, where youth are choosing the gun fully aware that they risk being eliminated early. Most who join militants ranks survive a few months, while those that live longer are the poster boys, who avoid encounters preferring to remain in the background.
There are multiple reasons being provided for this surge, financial being the least of them. First has been the rising public support to local militants, which has resulted in even attracting youth who are educated and belong to well off families. This support is evident when large numbers have begun attending funerals of local militants. Even the Hurriyat had begun glorifying militancy and using their deaths as political capital. Sayed Geelani had announced the award of a medal, Tamga-e-Azeemat (Medal of greatness) to the slain HM militant Burhan Wani, days after his elimination.
The second has been religious indoctrination. The youth of the valley have been brainwashed by rumours and calls for Jihad from the local pulpits, pushing many into the militant fold. This has led to many even turning to support the ISIS, which has commenced establishing its footprint in the state. In a recent encounter in Anantnag, Mohammed Taufeeq from Telangana was eliminated alongside a local poster boy ISIS supporter, Eisa Fazili. The rise of ISIS alongside other known militant outfits adds a new challenge to the region, as it could incite many from other parts of the country into the area and even those retreating from Syria and Iraq.
The failure of the state to deliver, provide opportunities for employment and clean governance enhances local frustration, pushing youth into militant folds. The youth bulge in the valley, with over sixty percent under the age of thirty adds to the problem. Further, it is this youth, which remains hyper active on social media and is easily influenced. With entertainment avenues missing in the valley, the youth is impacted by propaganda flowing through social media emanating from Pakistan alienating them from the mainstream.
Security agencies are now being compelled to follow a double- edged strategy to handle this growing concern. The first edge is to deter others from joining. This would require closer interaction at lower levels, involving the local civil and police authorities from being more concerned, humane and forthcoming. The state should chip in by enforcing clean and positive governance.
The second is launching Operation All-Out Phase 2. In the first phase last year, security forces eliminated 39 top ranking terrorists including 23 foreign militants, out of a total of 202 killed last year. Presently, they assess 250 militants being active in the valley. The commencement of the operation has already been a success as on Sunday, thirteen terrorists (mostly local) were gunned down in three near simultaneous operations.
As per media reports, a hit list of select militant group leaders has been made, who are the main targets. The thought process is that if these leaders are eliminated, it would deter locals from joining militant ranks as also create confusion in the minds of their cadre and handlers in Pak. More important for security forces is to change their modus-operandi in their manner of operations to reduce collateral damage. This could imply launching operations based on concrete intelligence, with fewer cordon and search operations.
Further, the state should consider whether last rites of slain militants, even locals should continue being performed in their respective villages, as post picking the gun, he is no longer a citizen but an enemy of the state and should be considered as such. This would reduce mass following and inciting others to join the militant fold. The changing environment demands a changing strategy, which the state and security agencies need to evolve together.
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army