General impression with Pakistani media and India-specific political observers in that country is that externally sponsored and abetted militancy in Kashmir is gradually dying down. There are many reasons. More important one is the Indian Army very effectively fighting back infiltrators trying to sneak in along LoC, especially in vulnerable sectors. Credit for proficiently thwarting infiltration bids goes first to the GOC-in-C Northern Command for planning counter strategy on day to day basis, and second to his brave officers and jawans who, taking cue from his inspiration, miss no chance of taking on the enemy whenever and wherever. Failure of groups of jihadis to sneak into our side causes them harrowing frustration leading to bitter acrimony against their sponsors in Islamabad. Pakistan’s prolonged strife against homegrown jihadis is another reason for drying up of meaningful support to Kashmir jihad. However, Pakistan’s Kashmir policy planners, for whom destabilization of peace in Kashmir has become an article of faith, have the compulsion of devising new and novel methods, howsoever heartless and barbaric, to promote their agenda in whatever way possible.
For some time in recent past, Pakistani forces along LoC have increased the frequency of firing on our posts close to the LoC. They make a selection of the targets keeping in view particular areas wherefrom it will be convenient for the infiltrators to sneak in with least possibility of detection. However, finding that their firing invites more than adequate response from the Indian side, they chose to shift operational sites. On October 16 Pakistani troops fired around 7-8 rounds of mortars that fell in Churanda village hardly 100 meters from the LoC in Haji Peer sector of North Kashmir. One of the shells fired by Pakistani troops targeted a residential house killing three inmates of the house — Mohammad Liaquat son of Nazir Ahmad, 15, Mohammad Shafiq son of Iman Bin, 32 and Shaheena daughter of Ismael, 20. This is the first time after 2003-cease fire agreement between India and Pakistan that Pakistani troops have targeted civilians on our side of the LoC. General Officer Commanding of Baramulla -based 19 Division told Excelsior that this was a targeted firing and the aim of mortar fire was to hit civilian houses because the residents of this village had refused to extend any help to the Pakistani infiltrators in this sector. Not only that, they would inform the Indian security forces whenever they detected any unusual movement taking place on the other side of the Line. Out of vengeance, Pakistani troops made them their target to spread fear in the mind of the civilian population forcing them either to succumb to the diktat of the infiltrators or to abandon their homes and move away to a safer place and leave space for the infiltrators to carry forward their activities of subversion. In doing so, Pakistani troops are violating the cease-fire agreement. Secondly, their claim of fighting jihad in Kashmir proves absurd because they unleash violence against the people of the same faith for whom they claim to be fighting the jihad. It shows that they are fighting a war for Pakistan and not for jihad. Pakistan-based terrorists know very well that the people living close to the LoC on Indian side of the line are not supportive of their activities, and are in regular liaison with State security forces briefing them on ground situation, as they know. It is to remind that army has always shown them full sympathy and has even been trying to mitigate some of their problems to make life safer and more comfortable. Again, the credit of strengthening army-civilian relationship in border areas of J&K goes to the legendary Commander of the Northern Command because of which people concerned call it their own army. The twin-strategy of challenging the infiltrators right on the LoC and of winning the hearts of civilian population is the crux of army’s success story of Kashmir operation.
Some commentators are puzzled at the paradox that on one hand Pakistan is talking to India on official level and claiming that relations are being straightened, but on the other hand she continues firing on the border, attempting to infiltrate subversives and trying other acts of subversion. The nexus among the Army, higher echelons of bureaucracy and big landowners of Pakistan standing up to the elected government in Islamabad clarifies the paradox. Pakistan Army has always considered Kashmir its exclusive domain disallowing the civilian government any space in talking to India to resolve the tangle. This being the truth about Pakistan’s domestic political exigency, New Delhi has to pursue vigorously the policy of not allowing bilateral talks to break down. At the same time, New Delhi will have to ensure that there is no relent in the vigil on the border and every action from Pakistan army meets with equal and adequate reaction.
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