OPINION
OPINION

Kashmir Headed For A Hot Summer

While the nation including the politicians, bureaucrats, police, public and last but not the least Corona warriors that include doctors, nurses and hospital staff are busy combating Covid-19, militancy in Kashmir is picking up with the onset of summer months. India need to remain vigilant.

Traditionally, there is a spurt in infiltration attempts with the opening of passes but the last month has seen unprecedented bloody encounters resulting in the death of 22 security personal including Col Ashutosh Sharma, Maj Anuj Sood and three other brave hearts. The tracking down and final elimination of a prominent leader of Hizbul Mujahideen Riaz Naikoo, is a shot in the arm of security forces, but should not be termed as retaliatory or revenge operation as covered by the mainstream media.

While the world is desperately fighting against the global Coronavirus pandemic, Pakistan has been continuously perpetuating proxy war. It is reliably learnt that Pakistan is motivating Covid-10 affected terrorists to infiltrate and carry out violent actions against Indian security forces so that they can go to heaven after their martyrdom. While Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-Ul-Hind remain the main active Tanzeems, Lakshar-e-Taiba leadership in Pakistan has floated a new outfit called The Resistance Front to give an indigenous look and ward off the pressure from Financial Action Task Force.

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A lid was kept on the internal security situation with a heavy hand by overwhelming deployment of security forces ever since article 370 was abrogated in early August 2019 but the dissatisfaction and disenchantment amongst the Kashmiris was brewing over time. Come November and as winter set in, the infiltration from across the Line of Control (LoC) came down to a trickle.

The central government thought that the security forces were on top of the situation; but it was the combination of the curfew, crowd control measures, uncertainty, prolonged house arrest of political leaders, blocking of internet and social media and the inclement weather that did not allow terrorists groups to reorganise and operate freely during the winter months. This period also witnessed a reduction in number of stone throwing incidents as the locals were not sure whether the security forces will continue to show restraint or use adequate requisite force.

At the beginning of this year, schools and colleges in Kashmir started reopening, internet was restored and the situation appeared to be inching towards normalcy in the Valley. Ironically, as the 70-odd Kashmiri political leaders including Abdullahs were released in March from house arrest, the rest of the nation was confined to homes due to the threat of Covid-19 and Kashmiris came at par with the rest of the countrymen. The security forces in Kashmir had to have a balancing act of fighting on two fronts, militancy and Covid-19. That is not an easy task.

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A few questions have arisen as to why the armed forces are facing so many casualties including those among senior officers. The answer lies in the ethos of the officers of the Indian Army.

The Indian Army has a tradition of officers leading from the front. This was evident during the various wars fought after Independence. Officer casualties have been proportionately higher than the other ranks.

This is also true for some other armies of the world. Israel is a shining example. In the Armoured Corps Memorial and Museum at Yad La-Shiryon, Latrun, there are over two thousand names of officers and enlisted men who have died between the age of eighteen to twenty years.

It was heartening to see that one section of the museum in Israel is dedicated to an Indian army officer; Lt Gen JFR Jacob, a Jew who was the brain behind the meticulous planning of operations in East Pakistan, later Bangladesh, in Indo-Pak War of 1971. Incidentally, in the 1971 War a large number of casualties were officers from the batch that got commissioned on 13 November 1971, from Indian Military Academy, barely three weeks prior to the war.

In Kashmir, Handwara has traditionally been a hot bed since it has thick forests around it like Machipora, Kainyar, Kandi, Harfudda, Saren, Dalar, Surhalu and Galganjan. Its proximity to the LoC gives it the correct positioning for reception areas after the infiltrations. Infiltrating groups come to these forests, have their rest and the recoup and plan operations using these forests as bases.

Invariably over the years, there have been bloody encounters with security forces. The army has always had one to two Special Forces teams operating in these areas alongside the Rashtriya Rifles and regular infantry battalions operating in a grid pattern in the hinterland.

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Detailed analyses of the counter insurgency operations in J&K since 1989 reveal that the maximum casualties to own troops are either at the beginning of the operation when the exact location of the terrorist is not really known to the troops and they are fired upon by terrorists hiding in houses or under natural cover; or at the end of the successful encounter when own troops in a rush of adrenaline, close in to mop up the operation but some half dead terrorist opens up at close range knowing fully well that he is going to die. In both cases, the officers are generally leading and have greater chances of becoming casualties.

The 15 Corps Commander, Lt Gen BS Raju in a recent interview claimed that the leadership of various Tanzeems active in the Valley and named above; has been eliminated. Basu says local recruitment has come down by 45 percent. However there are further dangers.

The US pullout from Afghanistan will give Pakistan leverage over Afghan terror groups who can be easily diverted to Kashmir. The foreign constituents of terrorist networks would substantially be increased. Regarding the leadership, most of these Tanzeems work in cellular system and there is always a standby leader who takes the place of the slain leader. Sometimes the same alias like Abu Bakker is also inherited by the new leader.

Since Pakistan was not able to get adequate traction and leverage in its relentless diplomatic efforts to isolate India internationally after the abrogation of Article 370, it is likely to push a large number of terrorist groups into the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir this summer. Our brave officers and jawans are having to fight on two fronts, the Covid-19 pandemic and the terrorist escalation from across the border. The launch pads and training areas as per the Corps Commander, are working at full capacity and therefore we need to be fully prepared for a hot summer in the Kashmir Valley. Ready the Indian Security Services will be.

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Tarun Kumar Rai
Tarun Kumar Rai
4 years ago

Well said sir perhaps in addition to other advantages COVID 19 has provided with extra advantage to the ever anti India and anti humanity Pakistan with perfect consucive atmosphere to raise attacks on Indian soil. China is also adding fuel to the fire by messing up with Indian forces in Ladakh and Nepal area. But we know and we are proud of our Indian forces who is well equipped to send the enemies to where they actually belong to. Jai Hind. Jai Bharat.

U C Sharma
U C Sharma
4 years ago

Well analysed and a well written article.

Prof (Dr.) Subramanian Raman Iyer

Most authentic and timely assessment, based on the General’s years long experience in the intense Counter terrorism environment in J&K.

Col Jaspal Singh Gill
Col Jaspal Singh Gill
4 years ago

Very well analysed. Problem of Pakistan is that it has the Kashmir bone stuck in the throat and they have been not able to succeed at any level. Therefore, Kashmir issue has to be kept alive to divert the attention of common people of Kashmir and Pakistan. Hoping for better sense to prevail and both countries live in everlasting peace.

shehryar khan
shehryar khan
4 years ago

Pakistan wants the Kashmir solution as per international norms and it is India who is master of diverting attention from the core internal and external problems to somewhere else. Col saab you’re a fauji and you must not behave like other bakhts.

Ike Singha
Ike Singha
4 years ago

Thank you very much. Your comments are very inspiring.

Sandeep Anand
Sandeep Anand
4 years ago

Great piece of work sir. Well analysed and informative content.

Ike Singha
Ike Singha
4 years ago
Reply to  Sandeep Anand

Thank you very much. Your words are inspiring

Col Akash Deep Anand
Col Akash Deep Anand
4 years ago

An excellent analysis Ike. The timing of the abrogation was very well planned, just before the onset of winters so the situation could be kept under control. However, as a soldier hailing from the erstwhile state, I have seen through the move as an act aimed at increasing popularity of the ruling dispensation at the Centre. Kashmiris and their mainstream leaders have not been taken on board and no effort has been made to create a popular narrative for the move, nor has any fiscal package been planned. With the economic woes due to the ill conceived and poorly implemented lockdowns the Centre is further constrained in doing anything worthwhile for the Kashmiris in the near future. The abrogation will only add to the list of dubious dividends earned through moves like Ram Mandir, CAA, UCC etc. Burden, as always, will continue to be borne by the AFs and our young officers and soldiers.

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