Few days back, Pakistani Rangers opened unprovoked shelling and firing on six BSF posts close to the International Border in Arnia area. Rangers opened 82 mm mortar shelling which caused damages to a dozen of civilian houses in Arnia villages. This was the third violation Rangers have made in the cease fire in two days. Actually, taking into account that this year it is the 170th violation, one can say that Pakistan has torn to shreds the cease fire agreement and thrown all norms of international behaviour to wind. Though the civilian population in Jabwol village of Arnia which has been the hardest hit target has not migrated and the civilian and police authorities have advised them to maintain caution, yet there is a sense of deep fear among the village people and they feel that they might have to migrate again as it had happened last year. Apart from Arnia, the Rangers had last year and in first week of January this year also targeted RS Pura, Samba, Ramgarh, Hiranagar, Kanachak and Pargwal sectors killing and injuring several civilians.
Speaking at a wreath laying ceremony in Homhama near Srinagar, the Inspector General of Border Security Force disclosed that two days earlier there was a bid by the infiltrators to sneak into our side of the LoC but it was foiled. We lost one jawan in firing but in retaliatory action two Rangers were killed. The IG said that according to intelligence reports nearly 200 militants are preparing to sneak into our side and join the terrorist groups that are operative in different parts of the valley. This and the above incident in Jabowal in Arnia put together, and also taking into consideration increased militant activities in recent weeks it is clear that Pakistan has something up its sleeves to vitiate the atmosphere.
In all probability, exacerbation of terrorist activities in J&K by the Pakistani Rangers has some logic behind it. Prime Minister Modi and Nawaz Sharif are scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to be held at Ulfa in Russia. We know that Pakistani Army has, throughout the history of Pakistan, always scuttled Pakistani civilian and elected government’s overtures to India for bilateral talks to resolve their differences. We know that soon after Nawaz Sharif attended the oath taking function of Narendra Modi, Pakistani Army escalated tension on the border only to neutralize the impact of a cordial meeting between the two prime ministers. In the same vein, Pakistan army and ISI are wary that the meeting between the two leaders in Russia scheduled for 10th of July might result in something that would not go in line with the plans and intentions of the Pak army. Therefore they would do something on the border to vitiate the atmosphere in the hope that India would call off the proposed meeting of the two leaders.
Another reason for Pakistan for creating fresh tension on the LoC and IB with India is that China pushes both India and Pakistan to begin the process of joining a security bloc led by her and Russia. The proposal is likely to be mooted in the forthcoming meeting at Ulfa. According to Pakistan press, a senior Chinese diplomat said it was the first time the grouping has expanded since it was set up in 2001. Pakistan Army has a number of problems in accepting the proposal but at the same time, it finds itself in a difficult position to say no to China. At the same time China has her own domestic compulsions to push the sort of joint security bloc. Islamic radical movement in the Uyghur Autonomous Republic is gaining ground and China has minced no words that these radicals are supported overtly and covertly by the terrorists in Central Asia and Pakistan. China has cautioned Pakistan a number of times that she should not allow her soil to be used by the terrorists against China, and Pakistan has always tried to take shelter behind the theory of “non-state actors”.
Thus we find that Pakistan is directing her Kashmir policy in the light of international developments and strategies. It is all right that on the border our forces give a befitting reply to the Rangers under the principle tooth for tooth and eye for eye. However, on broader plane, India has to take into account all the factors that are germane to the unleashing of violence by the Rangers on the border.
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