In its annual security report the Union Home Ministry asserts that militancy related incidents have considerably declined since its eruption two decades ago. Total civilian casualties during the entire period are computed at 13,861 persons, and of security forces there have been 4822 casualties. Incident-wise, there is marked decline of 35.29 per cent militancy related incidents during 2012. Again during the same year, 15 civilians, 15 security force personnel and 72 militants got killed in action. A major achievement according to the report has been made in controlling infiltration bids of the jihadis from across the LoC and International Border line.
The essential part of improving security scenario is that of controlling infiltration of jihadi militants across the LoC as well as the International Borders. The report suggests that owing to various steps in the direction of counter terrorism, the number of infiltration bids has come down considerably. It is true that our security establishment has made much improvement in countering terrorism on the ground and in controlling infiltration across the porous border. Credit has to go to the Commander of the Northern Command, who devised the strategy of controlling infiltration at the point of origin, namely the LoC. Fencing of the border, improvise communication and surveillance technology, streamlining intelligence gathering mechanism, sophisticated Military Intelligence operations, induction of better military equipment and signalling etc. have made considerable difference in the frequency of infiltration bids of the jihadis. Indian security establishment has acquired high level of counter-insurgency efficiency with the result that the jihadis sponsored by their mentors find it difficulty to make any headway in achieving their plan.
In all probability, ex-filtration of Kashmiri youth to join ISI sponsored jihadi training camps in PoK has come down to zero, thanks to strict vigil mounted by the security and border security forces all along the porous border. Killing of no fewer than 72 jihadis trying to infiltrate during the year 2012 has been an eye opener to their colleagues still expecting to succeed in sneaking into this part of Kashmir. Apart from the tight vigil of Border Security Force, various initiatives of the Government in providing employment and skills to Kashmiri youth has also helped in drying up the ranks of jihadis and insurgents in PoK training camps. This was revealed by a number of messages intercepted by our security men that were being exchanged between the jihadis and their mentors in Pakistan. Kashmiri youth have been making open confession of futility of taking up guns to fight a far bigger force and to no purpose. There is much more realisation among the Kashmiri youth that it is they who have had to bear the maximum brunt of armed insurgency. Despite the fact that the security forces have been using minimum force and also trying to ensure that as little loss of civilian life happens as is possible while containing militancy, the civilians are the worst sufferers of militant attacks. Families are rendered destitute, children are orphaned, youth are rendered resource-less, their education suffers and developmental works are forcibly put on hold.
However, conceding that the Home Ministry is justified in claiming to have controlled insurgency to a large extent and helped in restoring normalcy to the strife torn state after two decades of turmoil, the fact remains that alienation of the people has not yet been fully wiped out and hatred in some people against the system has not been diluted. Pro-active nationalism needs to gain supremacy over narrow parochialism and sub-regionalism. More jobs have to be provided to the unemployed youth and self employment has to be given its due importance not only on the paper but more importantly on the actual ground. Wider scope of interaction between the Kashmiri youth and the rest of the youth in the country has to be provided and pursued. This also holds true in the case of persons displaced from the valley in past two decades or more.
Finally, while satisfaction is to be exuded on the ability of the state to control armed insurgency to a large extent, it does not mean that shift has to be made to complacency. Word “complacency” no more exists in the lexicons of our Kashmir policy planers. Turmoil will remain long because of the poison with which minds are polluted. Something has to be done to purify the corrupted minds that are made to look at things from sectarian glasses. We think the onus comes to the doorsteps of the elected representatives who can and should exert maximum influence with the people and educate them on the long range benefits of Indian secular democracy. The litmus test of return and restoration of normalcy in Kashmir is the restitution of true secular ethos of Kashmirian society which has received drubbing at the hands of the religious extremists and believers in violence.
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