Various schemes are under contemplation of authorities that would secure our borders with Pakistan in the State of Jammu and Kashmir. For some years in the past, Pakistani troops have been targeting a number of villages located close to the International Border in Jammu Division. This causes disruption of normal life of our civilians. Keeping this in mind, the Government had devised the plan of acquiring land in three districts of Kathua, Samba and Jammu close to the border. The purpose was to build a 135 feet wide corridor in these border districts along the border with Pakistan. In all 118 villages along International Border from Hiranagar to Kathua to Akhnoor were identified. Of these 72 villages fall in Jammu, 17 in Kathua and 29 in Samba district. The entire corridor would occupy 8648 kilometres.
Three years ago, the State Revenue Department began the identification of the villages and localities through which the said corridor would pass. This is a cumbersome job and villagers are generally reluctant to give their land. According to the reports emanating from concerned revenue quarters of the State, it has been known that the task of identifying the land and preparing the revenue record for handing over the same to the BSF has been completed. But the Union Home Ministry, which has mooted the idea and to which information about identification of land and preparation of transfer papers was conveyed have not till date released the funds to the concerned Deputy Commissioners for disbursement among the land owners whose land has to be acquired. Inordinate delay in disbursing the funds as cost of land or rent has caused serious doubts among land owners whether they would at all be paid or not. It may be reminded that 44 feet wide corridor already taken by the Home Ministry and handed over to the BSF for fencing the border has not been paid for so far. The proposed 135 feet corridor is inclusive of existing 44 feet corridor meant for fencing.
The point to be made in emphatic terms is that the Home Ministry needs to take the security of the border very seriously. Whatever be the scheme or plan to further secure the border is welcome but once the decision is taken, its pre-requisites should be fulfilled without delay. If the Home Ministry is convinced that creation of a 135 feet corridor is really going to checkmate the attempts of the adversary either to shell the civilian population or to help the infiltrators to sneak into our side of the border, then it should not have waited for three long years and still no final word is visible. It is also said that the Home Ministry has second thoughts on the corridor or that it wants to modify the scheme. There should be no problem in either modifying the scheme or keeping it in abeyance for some time if the policy planners come to that decision. Then in that case the State Government should be informed accordingly. The three Deputy Commissioners whose districts are involved in the corridor plan are in an embarrassing situation because they have to face the land owners who complain about non payment of the cost of the land or the rent as the case may be.
Undoubtedly, the ball is in the court of the Home Ministry. It must take a decision either way and convey the same to the State Government. As already expressed, the villagers are reluctant to give their land and it is only after great persuasions from the Revenue Department that they have agreed to part with their landed property. It has also to be mentioned that creation of a corridor 135 feet wide all along the border seems an uphill task. The best would have been if our forward posts were strengthened and bunkers made of concrete and deployment of security forces sufficient enough to deter the enemy from making any attempt of providing cover fire to the infiltrators. A message should go to the enemy that it will be playing with fire if it hazards conflict with Indian security forces along the border. Pakistan wants escalation of tension on the border so that India, in a state of desperation, announces military action against Pakistani intruders. Pakistan is very eagerly awaiting precipitate action by India on the border so that it can rush to the international community saying that at a time when Pakistan has been dealing with its adversaries in NWFP (Waziristan and PK) India has launched an attack on her. In this way Pakistan wants to win the sympathy of world community to her cause. India has to take care of not falling in the trap. Border skirmishes are to be responded according to the situation on the ground and nothing less or nothing more. After all it is a long drawn process till a day comes when Pakistan’s domestic conditions take a definite turn that will have its impact on Indo-Pakistan relations.
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