Nearly a thousand years ago, Kashmir’s celebrated warrior-king Lalitadittya had ordered that only the princes of royal blood should be deputed as drangapatis meaning the Lord of the Passes in Kashmir. This speaks of the importance of mountain passes leading into the valley, their foolproof security and management. Realizing that a treacherous Lord of the Pass could prove immensely disastrous to the kingdom, he trusted none but the princes of royal blood. And who were the people who threatened the security of his state? Kalhana takes the name of Bombas, Khashas (Khakhas), Turushkas, Bhutias and others. Beyond the passes of Kashmir lived the highlanders who, not having plain land, had to face harsh economic conditions and adopted loot and rapine of the valley as the source of survival. Lalitadittya could plug about half a dozen of passes and secure his kingdom. But today we have as many as 40 known passages and scores of unknown routes that are used by the infiltrators to subject the valley to loot, rapine and mayhem.
Today’s infiltrators of Kashmir through known and unknown passages are different in all respects from the Bombas, Khakhas and Turushkas of Kalhana’s times. They are not highlanders, the hungry unfed and unclothed wolves coming for loot in the green pastures of Kashmir. No, the present day infiltrators are legions from the plains of Punjab, who have been indoctrinated with religious fervour and trained to undertake deadly terrorist missions across the border. They are equipped with sophisticated weapons and ultra modern communication gadgets, roadmaps, compasses and human guides. They are received as guest mujahid and provided not only safe havens inside Kashmir but also all necessary input that would make their mission complete success.
Policy planners at various levels, MHA, Defence Ministry, Finance Ministry and the rest have very seriously and objectively discussed the issue of raising a fence all along the 740 kilometers of the Line of Control as a mechanism of obstructing infiltration from across the LoC. Since infiltration happens from the other side of the LoC, and there is no ex-filtration from our side, we are burdened to raise a fence. This is a plus point for Pakistan and its jihadis. As we raised the fence over nearly 550 kilometers of the LoC, we found that it could not withstand the harsh weather, heavy snowfall and blizzards over the Himalayan heights. Security forces have reported that at least in a length of 80 kilometers of very difficult topography and harsh weather in Gurez, Tilel and Karnah sector, the fence caves in with heavy snowfall.
As a matter of fact, there are no fences at the borders of countries with contiguous borders. But in view of long standing hostility between India and Pakistan and claims of both on Kashmir, it has become unavoidable for India to raise the fence and maintain it at whatever the cost. Two things need to be made sure. One is that the fence whenever and wherever it collapses has to be repaired and kept intact. The other and more important thing in view of harsh weather conditions is that some innovative system has to be devised so that the fence along with its entire supportive structure can withstand even the heaviest snowfall and blizzards. Such a technology has to be found and put to use. We are confident that someday somebody will be able to make such innovative enterprise and relieve us of the problem of repairing the fence in hostile environs and climate. We have reports that fencing has helped to some extent in preventing infiltration. Actually it is the alertness and strict vigil of our security forces that are dependable means of preventing infiltration. While we need to develop all weather fencing mechanism, we also need to train and equip our defence personnel maximally in countering infiltration attempts. The saboteurs know that Indian forces have raised the fence and as such they have also devised means and ways of damaging the fence and making way for infiltration. Of course with advanced technology of air and land surveillance, this also is being checked by our security forces but stray cases of infiltration do happen. Hundred per cent foolproof fencing may not be there but at least repairing the damaged parts should become a regular feature while remaining portions are also brought under the fencing project. Concerned ministries and the State government have to take up the matter seriously and provide wherewithal to see to it that fencing is completed.
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