The fidayeen attack in Janglot area on Kathua -Jammu National Highway has once again revealed the barbaric face of terrorist organizations with their base in Pakistan. This is the second such attack during past six months though, of course, the previous attack entailed more casualties than the present one. The attack is in many ways similar to one that the fidayeen had carried out on Samba military camp in September last. One expected the police, security forces and the army to have learnt something from September attack and not lower the guard. It appears that somehow somewhere there has been slackness in security arrangement. How come that the attackers, armed to the hilt as they were, could ride the 19 kilometre track along the National Highway till they reached almost a kilometre from the army camp. Obviously, strict security arrangement along the critical highway should have been made foolproof so that nobody could succeed in negotiating the barriers and nakas that police have set up.
Political leaders have condemned this cowardly act which took the lives of three civilians and an army jawan. However, we must appreciate the alertness of the army which did not allow the terrorists to make any headway in their mission. If the army guard was not alert, much damage would have been caused. It has been known for quite some time that the terrorists have adopted the new strategy of first making thorough survey and surveillance of the roadmap and the destination where they want to launch an attack. May be they were assisted by some local conduits. In all probability that is the case. But the police intelligence is expected to keep an eye on such elements if these are there. After all it is common knowledge that Pakistan-based terrorist organizations like Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and others have very often said it threadbare that their mission is to disrupt and destabilize J&K State in whatever way they can. Commentators make us believe that these terrorists are not under the control of Pakistani government or army or other agencies. This is ridiculous and trash which nobody will accept. The type of arms these terrorists carried and the communication equipment is very sophisticated and ultra modern which no private organization is capable of procuring. Undoubtedly this and other items of logistic support are provided to them by the Pakistan army and the non-state actors ploy is only a mask to hide the reality.
The present attack of the Pakistani terrorists on the passengers of Bolero vehicle and then on Janglot Army camp is almost a copy of their 26th September attack in which loss of life was much higher than what happened in Janglot. After killing one passenger of the vehicle and injuring other three, the terrorists forced the driver to take them a kilometre close to the army camp. Some questions arise. As in the 26 September attack, it seems that the attackers had made a good survey of the topography and roadmap. They had earmarked a place Sahar Khud just one kilometre short of Janglot army camp where they killed the driver of Bolero lest he discloses their identity and abandoned the vehicle. This surveillance must have been conducted some days earlier or alternately they might have the survey map with them. In any case why were not they detected while conducting survey? This question shall have to be probed into. Secondly, the terrorists walked at least eight kilometres from entry point on the border to reach the National Highway. They rode 19 kilometres in the Bolero and managed to negotiate nakas, police installations without being obstructed in their movement. What for are police nakas and other installations if these cannot become effective in stopping a vehicle? When the September attack happened we were told that police had increased vigilance along the National Highway, which is of vital strategic importance to the security of the State. The present event of attack does not show that security and surveillance along the highway are ideally effective. But of course, it was the alertness of the Army that minimized the casualties and deterred the assailants from causing serious damages to the Army camp. We need to streamline our security arrangement of the highway and the border line.
But most importantly we must take into account the impact of this attack on on-going Indo-Pak relations. We find Pak PM’s suggestion of resuming comprehensive bilateral talks meaningless as long as Pakistan is unable to contain its zealots from conducting armed attacks on India border. This is the second attack they have made after crossing the international border in last six months. It is not a LoC skirmish or casual firing. It is an intentional and planned attack on India to disrupt her security and break the law and order. In such circumstances no meaningful talks can take place. When there is no sincerity on the side of Pakistan, it is futile to agree to sit round a table and talk. Talk what? We shall not allow Pakistan to run away with perfidy.
Pakistan needs to be told in very clear terms that we rubbish their “non-state actor” theory and hold them squarely responsible for all attacks like these. India must reserve the option of destroying terrorist camps raised close to the LoC or the international border where from the terrorists receive logistic support for conducing incursions into Indian Territory. We have the right to self defence and we should utilise it when and where we find the dividends are assured.
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