We need to find the reasons why Pakistan has accelerated bids of infiltration by Jihadis from various so-called non-state actors/organizations during past one year. Is it owing to any slackness on the part of our border security forces? Is it because Pakistan has been able to brainwash and motivate increasing number of Fidayeen to kill and get killed in Kashmir war? Is it part of a new grand strategy of ISI? There can be any number of surmises. Which one is correct is difficult to say.
However, what can be said with fair amount of certainty is that inside Kashmir valley, there has been regular intensification of anti-India tirade sponsored by the separatist and secessionist leadership in Kashmir. Interaction between Kashmir chapter of terrorists with their handlers in Pakistan, be it Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiiba or Jaish-e-Muhammad has become brisk. It is facilitated by larger number of Kashmiris enthusiastically responding to lead given by external terrorists.
Pakistan’s domestic conditions are a strong compulsion for ISI and Pak Army to exacerbate militancy in Kashmir. This will be understood by a massive propaganda launched by Pakistan in various international bodies of so-called oppression by India in Kashmir. Pakistan has shot letters to the Security Council and the Secretary General of UN besides to the office of the Secretary of State in Washington. Pakistan seems to have succeeded in that effort because in one way or the other, these recipients have reacted even if mildly by cautioning India to observe restraint in Kashmir. It is a different story whether the Government of India will give them the list of weapons captured from the infiltrators, to the tune of 94,000 Kalashnikov Rifles, to speak of only one item. Imagine a small place like Kashmir where this huge number of guns is brought in and freely distributed, what will be the ground situation and what measure of protective dispensation will be needed to neutralise the holders of these guns.
Pakistan has stepped up infiltration bids just because its radical terrorist organizations have been able to brainwash Pakistani youth and prepare them for suicide attacks in Kashmir. Entire border from Uri north eastward to Machail in Gurez area has been activated. ISI’s tactics is to make infiltration bids from as many points of entry as is possible so that Indian Army is forced to establish counter infiltration posts.
However, it is not only the crossing point where the Fidayeen will be countered by Indian troops. Once they have somehow managed to hoodwink the border security and infiltrate and sought shelter in nearby villages wherefrom they fan out, they become more vulnerable and an easier target for Indian troops. In other words, they may succeed in giving slip to the first line of defence, but they cannot escape the vigilant eye of Indian security forces once they are in the hinterland. It is because of this tactics that ISI has adopted the new strategy of whipping up false propaganda and vitiating the minds of the people in the valley and especially the youth. However, we are sure that infiltrators will continue to meet the fate they have been meeting for last two decades and half at the hands of security forces.