Insurgency and the army The Statesman 02 Aug 16
J and K flared up, post the encounter, in which Burhan Wani was eliminated. The situation should have been expected and requisite security measures adopted. The centre was compelled to react and the only answer was to induct additional security forces into the area. The media and political circles debated the crisis with emphasis on the efficacy of pellet guns and the lifting of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). While employment of pellet guns is a police decision, AFSPA involves the army. News channels revelled in the AFSPA debate and also drew parallels to the situation in the North East. However, most failed to realize the true role of the army.
The military is the ultimate source of power of any nation. Once employed there is no other force available with the government to enforce its writ. Therefore, it cannot be allowed to fail. It is only inducted into the internal security environment once the situation deteriorates beyond control of other forces, hence warranting employment of desperate measures to regain control. AFSPA was initially enacted to enable the army to function (albeit with hands tied and severe limitations on use of equipment), but with more freedom than the state and central police forces, to reverse a situation, which led to the state losing its writ over a particular area. The decision to employ it is always political and so is the decision to withdraw it.
By hands tied, I imply that it only utilizes hand held weapons, irrespective of its own casualties and losses, which mount, while ensuring minimum collateral damage. The Pakistan army, on the other hand, employs air power and artillery in its anti-terrorist operations, without even considering the loss of innocent lives, however reducing its own casualties. Similar is the case with most other nations fighting militancy including US is Afghanistan, Myanmar, Russia in Chechnya, Israel and countries in West Asia and Africa.
The army is not employed for crowd control, hence weapons like pellet guns never exist in its armoury. The confusion created on pellets guns arises because of the common pattern uniform worn by other central forces. The army only disperses mobs which try and attack its bases or convoys and when it happens, responds with military force to ensure its protection. In J and K, it defends the border to prevent infiltration of militants and subsequently eliminate those that infiltrate.
When dealing with militants who have no morals nor hesitation in killing or raping locals in their desire to achieve the aims of their masters, especially when cornered in an encounter, there is always a likelihood of collateral damage. Even action by locals, resorting to stone throwing to distract security forces, is handled by the local police, while the army concentrates on its primary objective of eliminating militants. While precautions are taken, accidents occur. In insurgency areas it is difficult to differentiate between militants, supporters and locals, especially when people flee from check posts established to trap militants. Such incidents result in avoidable casualties.
This is the same army, which comes to rescue when the area is affected by natural disasters. It cares for the population first and then its own. Earthquakes and floods in Kashmir and Assam bear testimony. Similarly, its actions to win the hearts and minds of the local population have produced results. It has opened avenues and facilities which never existed and even taken local children on guided tours across the nation, thereby inculcating in them a feeling of being Indian. This will bear fruit with time. This action has never been paralleled by any other agency including state governments.
In Kashmir, in the current agitation, the valley continues to burn. This is mainly due to funding by anti- national and pro-Pak elements to stone throwers and agitators as also the guidance provided by infiltrated terrorists solely for this purpose. They instigate misguided youth to launch stone attacks while they remain in the back ground. The attackers place women and children ahead, who bear the brunt of the retaliation, adding fuel to fire. In reality, the agitation is a sign of frustration fuelled by pro-Pak elements.
AFSPA has been facing criticism from many quarters. While it does need to be discussed, however primarily it should be understood that it does not offer complete protection to the force. In the initial period of army involvement in controlling insurgencies, there could have been excessive force employed, however, with period of time, the army has matured, learnt its lessons and laid down strict codes of conduct. There are provisions within the act to punish those who break the law and do so intentionally. The last few years has seen over 104 army personnel including 35 officers punished for taking the law into their own hands, in J and K alone.
Every internal security problem has a political solution. Military power is not the ultimate answer. It is only a tool to regain state writ, while enabling the government to seek a political solution from a position of strength. The government should continue to strive for a solution while the army keeps the security environment under control. This coordination is an essential ingredient for success. However, as long as it operates it needs AFSPA to remain in force, thus enabling it to operate independently and judiciously, ensuring that majority of the public are protected. An aberration could always be dealt with summarily. The decision to determine that the situation has returned normal will always be of the political leadership.
While the army operates and suffers casualties in battling militants, it needs national support. The army represents the nation as it fights for national unity, security and re-establishing state writ in an area where it was lost due too political and bureaucratic bungling’s. Criticism, especially by arm chair pseudo intellectuals, who have never experienced a flurry of bullets from a militant’s gun or watching their own die, does affect morale. My earnest request is support the men in uniform, as they perform a task which is unenviable and difficult. The soldiers are sacrificing their lives each day, only to ensure a secure nation.
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army