Terrorist strikes in Kashmir The Excelsior 03 Nov 2024
The recent spate of terrorist attacks in Kashmir are a message that terrorism had never truly gone. Its brief sojourn to South of the Pir Panjal was a phase when pressure mounted in the valley. No terrorist activity during elections was possibly the result of firm warnings conveyed to Pakistan through common emissaries that in case these were disrupted or there were violent incidents, India’s response would be unparallel.
Unprecedented numbers of tourists as also conduct of multinational events had placed Kashmir on the global map, must against the objections of Pakistan. The high voter turnout in elections, participation of banned Jamaat-e-Islami candidates, active campaigning, peaceful conduct and the emergence of the National Conference on the centre stage gave credence to India’s claims that Kashmir is no longer disputed. It was the first time that there was door to door campaigning as also presence of global observers. There was not a single report on fraud or rigging.
For Pakistan, already losing the battle of perspectives on Kashmir, there were few options, but to rekindle flames of terrorism. Its inducted terrorists were reactivated almost as soon as the SCO summit in Islamabad concluded. A few days prior and maybe India would have been unrepresented in Islamabad. There are just a handful of nations which currently support Pakistan’s claims of Kashmir being disputed and its resolution based on the UN charter. UN bodies are unconcerned. The UNSC ignores the subject. The world is used to Pakistan’s crying.
In global bodies, Pakistan desperately links everything to Kashmir, whether it be Palestine or any other subject. There will be more drama in the UNSC from 01 Jan next year, when Pakistan begins its two-year term there. The Indian delegation will be involved in countering Pakistan’s lies at every stage.
Islamabad is also desperate to project that it will not be cowed down by Indian threats. There are two threats on the cards. The first is revamping of the Indus Water Treaty, notice of which has already been given to Islamabad. One of the reasons quoted is Pakistan’s sponsorship of terrorism.
The other is India’s hesitation to participate in cricket Champion’s trophy, scheduled in Pakistan early next year. In any case, the chances of India’s participation are receding by the day. Pakistan will ultimately be compelled to conduct the tournament in a hybrid mode, which will be another embarrassment to the string that it faces. Without India, the tournament can never be held.
For the Omar Abdullah government, these attacks come as a challenge at the commencement of their term. The first attack was just a day after Omar participated in the Srinagar half marathon where he commented, ‘This event not only showcases our sporting prowess but also serves as a platform to celebrate the beauty and diversity of Kashmir.’
A total of 1700 runners had participated. Twelve nations were represented. This was another nail in the coffin of Pakistan’s fake claims of human rights abuses and enforced disappearances in Kashmir.
Recent attacks forced Farooq Abdullah to sing a different tune and deride any talks with Pakistan. He had throughout campaigning insisted that talks with Pakistan was the only solution to peace. He had repeated his call as Jaishankar proceeded to Islamabad for the SCO summit. Post the strikes he mentioned, ‘Innocent people are being killed, and for what? We will never be part of Pakistan. If they don’t stop this terrorism, their own future will be in jeopardy.’
It does appear that the terrorists had been conducting reconnaissance on possible targets over a period of time. Their weapons are amongst those left by the US in Afghanistan, which is a hallmark of the involvement of Pakistan’s ISI. The group claiming responsibility, TRF (The Resistance Front) is a known offshoot of the banned LeT (Lashkar-e-Taiba). All signatures point across the LOC, no matter how much they deny.
The targeting of innocents, apart from playing into Pakistan’s agenda of the region being disputed adds to fear, disrupts the developmental process and reduces availability of staff for ongoing projects. Simultaneously, important national security linked projects should have had some form of protection, either armed security agencies or local or armed police, mainly as a deterrent. This is something the government failed to ensure. In remote locations, they are lucrative targets, even if the region has not witnessed attacks in recent times.
The attack on the army column is a replica of ambushes as in the Poonch belt in the recent past. This may be a temporary setback for security forces but they are bound to bounce back and regain the upper hand. It may impose caution for the moment but determination and planned operations would bring success in the days ahead.
For the new government, this is a challenge it must face head on. With a wavering security environment, it is unlikely that statehood would be restored immediately and security handed over to it. In all probability, it would be some time before the scenario changes and the centre feels the time is right for statehood.
The targeting of migrant labour is intended to damage the environment not only within Kashmir but also dent its national image. It is participation of people from across the country who have worked alongside Kashmiris to usher in development and restore normalcy.
In Kashmir, as against the Jammu belt, attacks on locals are far less than on outsiders. Similarly, tourist spots are untouched. It is possible that this is due to the large presence of migrant labour in the valley which in itself presents a viable target, or that Pakistan is fearful of losing its limited support base in the region. Further, targeting tourists could result in a strong response from the Indian government, which has been projecting normalcy in Kashmir.
J and K has faced ups and downs in the past few decades. Every time there has been a low, security forces have bounced back and regained the upper hand. These few incidents, in a near simultaneous timeframe, are another example of a low which needs to be reversed. It will happen, for which we need to trust those responsible for ensuring security.
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army