Kalhana’s Rajatarangini, the famous history of ancient Kashmir written in later part of 11th century, tells us that ancient kings of Kashmir had established the department of border passes called ‘dranga’ in Sanskrit. They had identified vulnerable passes along the western mountains through which rapacious marauders from adjoining highlands sneaked into the valley and perpetrated atrocities on peace loving people. The passes are still known as ‘dranga’. Kings of olden times had set forth a rule according to which only the princes from royal blood were made commanders of the passes called drangapati meaning Lord of the Pass. Perhaps the reason for doing so was that commanders not from royal blood were not that much trustworthy. This reveals the strategic importance of the passes leading into Kashmir valley. One wishes that our leaders had understood the mountain passes policy of ancient Kings and given it a serious thought at the time of signing the cease-fire agreement with Pakistan on January 1, 1949.
Strategic importance of these passes stands much more enhanced today than what it was in ancient times. Apart from traditional passes, terrorists infiltrating from the other side of 740 kms long LoC have found numerous other sneak-in points to carry forward their subversive designs against the people of the valley.
In view of recurring instances of illegal infiltration by terrorists trained in Pakistani training camps, security authorities of the State, especially the police, proposed in 2000 fencing of the entire line of control in Jammu and Kashmir. The Army had some reservations about this decision but finally agreed to the proposal and the work on fencing started in 2004. Till date, 550 kilometres of the LoC have been fenced. The remaining portion of about 200 kilometres lies mostly in the higher north-east ranges of the Himalayas, and usually get very heavy snow fall during winter months. Apart from this, in about 80 kilometres of the line of control, fencing and pillars sustaining the fence wire have been damaged by heavy snowfall. This leaves gaps in the fencing strip which the infiltrators use for sneaking into our side of the line of control.
This matter was brought to the notice of the Home Minister during his recent visits to the border areas in the valley and in Jammu region. The reports are that the Home Ministry has constituted a high power committee under the chairmanship of the Home Secretary. The J& K Police Chief and experts from various departments of the Central government are its members. The Committee will examine the ground situation and suggest what measures should be taken to make the fencing along the LoC in J&K such as would withstand heavy snowfall and strong winds sweeping the region. The purpose is to deny any chance for infiltration to miscreants from across the line. Fencing across the very inhospitable region where snow blizzards are a regular phenomenon, appears somewhat difficult. However, it is likely that the committee of experts can find a way out and thus prevent infiltration. Fencing the international border to the west has been successfully achieved but geographical, topographical and weather conditions in higher reaches of Kashmir are much different. Fencing the long border between India and Pakistan is a unique phenomenon. There are very few countries where international borders are fenced. The reason for India to fence the border to her west is the recurrent infiltration by Pakistani subversives. New Delhi’s repeated reminders to Pakistani authorities to stop illegal infiltration have not yielded the desired result. Islamabad’s new stance is that the infiltrators are non-state actors.
The “non-state actors” stunt is the other way of accepting federal government’s inability to enforce the rule of law in that country. In other words, one may say that Pakistan is a lawless country where nobody is ready to follow the law of the land. The presumption is supported by the fact that numerous militant organizations have sprung up in Pakistan, each proclaiming its specific code and swearing to implement it at the point of gun. Theo-fascist organizations like the lashkars are thriving in that country. Their declared objective is to bring terror and mayhem to our country particularly Kashmir. Normally, Pakistan’s pretexts of deniability and “non-state actor” antics, and continued facilitation of infiltration by her subversives should have seen far harsher retaliation from our side. This has not happened for many reasons but more significantly for India not believing in a policy of belligerence and violence against her neighbours. India has always adhered to non-violence in dealing with international or inter-regional issues. As such, among non-violent retaliatory options left to her is of fencing the entire LoC including snow-bound stretches whatever be the cost. This justifies the measure taken by the Home Ministry to call the meeting of an expert committee and suggest recommendations, which will go to the CCS for approval. But completing the fencing along LoC does not mean complacency on the part of the army and security forces. They will maintain vigil on the border as usual. It should be clear to Pakistan and her so-called “non-state actors” that alert and dedicated Indian soldiers guarding the border will not allow any chance to any infiltrator to go unpunished while attempting to sneak in clandestinely and launch subversion against peaceful civilians in the valley and other parts of the State.
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