Col J P Singh
Encounters were on in Kokernag, Kishtwar and Basantgarh while Dr. Farooq Abdullah, taking a jibe at the Security Forces, started a vilification campaign against the most professional armed forces. Anguished at the sudden turn of events, I, as a layman, undertake to analyse the challenges facing J&K.
J&K has actually been facing low intensity war coupled with Jihad since long. There was lull in the storm for sometime. Suddenly June-July has seen a major spurt in terrorist attacks particularly in Jammu region. The intensity of the incidents is of such a magnitude that friendly countries like Israel are showing concerns on what is happening in India.
Colonel Avner Mueller,similarly victimised military commander of the Israeli Defense Forces, has said, “Every single day I read news about Indian soldiers getting killed by the Pakistani army. Do you Indians feel no pain for the loss of lives of your soldiers? I am especially pointing fingers at your Govt. Unless you show the world you can strike back and with a vengeance, the world will keep thinking of you Indians as weak and worthless.You will have no standing on the world stage, from a respect standpoint. Is this how you Indians like to be viewed worldwide? We Israelis respect the life of every single soldier, no matter his or her rank in the IDF’.Itopens nation’s eyes and anguishes the Veterans. Israel is very small country with enemies all around and everywhere, but doesn’t relent in its fight against safety and pride. Why is India in any predicament? Is it outcome of the general election or the coming election in J&K.Social media continues to raise that the lives of soldiers matter little to the political rulers ensconced in layers of security, while the bureaucrats watch the fun and yes-men ever ready to timidly defend the ignominious attitude of the Govt. But none is bothered. That irks the nationalists and hence the agony everywhere including far off Israel.
The visible upsurge in terrorism in Jammu with series of terrorist incidents beginning with 9th June 2024 Shiv Khori attack coinciding with the swearing-in ceremony of NDA-3.0 is alarming. If you look back into last 3/4 years, 125SF personnel, including 52 in the Jammu, have been killed by some odd 50/60 terrorists. It shows that they are better trained and motivated with edge over our security forces because the initiative and local support is with them. That is why sudden barbarity has gone up showing videos of mutilated bodies to raise the morale of terrorists and to demoralise our forces. Systematic Talibanisation of Pakistan is having its cruel spill over India. Pakistan’s sustained hostility and the political, security, diplomatic and above all human and psychological cost it has imposed on our nation is hard to accept.ISI has successfully infiltrated in JKP and civil administration. DG Police is on record having said that political parties in J&K are assisting such infiltration. Today we are at the Cross-Roads where the prospects for better future have never seemed so distant. We need to cleanse our own house first which is the job of the UT Govt. Indian Army has taken the terrorist head-on but there is nothing yet on the table for the perpetrator. Pakistan must be made to pay the price for its barbarity. The time is now. Readers would be happy to know that Army is now after terrorists’ blood day & night. World should soon see what India does next. Dr Farooq Abdullah must take back his words or will have to eat a humble-pie.
Terrorism in J&K was subdued before the 1999 Kargil conflict but revived after 8 Mtn Division was moved from the Valley to Kargil. Post the 2020 Chinese aggression in Ladakh, a Division of RR was moved to Ladakh disturbing the Counter TerrorGrid in Reasi. The current security focus on NH-44 for the Amarnath Yatra also thinned troops from vulnerable areas. But post review of J&K’s security by the prime minister, additional Infantry formations, Special Forces and CAPF have been inducted in J&K.
Pakistan is the epicentre of terrorism. It is most notorious in the world for churning out die-hard terrorists in her terror producing factories. These factories were funded by US for decades to drive out Russians from Afghanistan. Having tasted success and blood in Afghanistan, they were directed towards Kashmir to drive out Indian armed forces from J&K. ISI seems to be still confident of driving out security forces from J&K. Let us not overlook it. We shouldn’t expect Pakistan to give up on its agenda. Hence Pakistan has to pay a price for its crime against India, which certainly cannot be one ‘surgical strike’ or ‘Balakot- bombing’ once in a decade. The revenge has to be forceful and immediate, within 24/48 hours striking back with a vengeance causing casualties as Col Mueller of IDF suggests. The Army knows how to exact the revenge. But it needs to be given a free hand.A dirty war is a dirty game and must have anequally dirty response. As a nation, if we cannot take risks, we will continue to see the national flag wrapped bodies coming home more often.Our Special Forces are meant for the revenge. They have done it in the past remarkably. Their primary task is across the border. But they are being employed as Infantry in J&K while Infantry is being employed as Police Forces. Role of each is different. It is under utilisation of our power and resources. If we make mistakes, we are bound to suffer.
Our policymakers must realise that we are at the cross-roads of full-fledged Islamic Jihad, coupled with American designs to destabilise South Asia by sponsoringTalibanisation of Pakistan. Bangladesh mayhem is the result of CIA and ISI destablising strategy of South Asia because Premier Sheikh Hasina did not allow American military forays in her closer vicinity. She showed eyes to China by cutting short her official visit for the summit level talks little realising the risk involved. She took stand because she was sure of India standing with her nation. Even then see her plight. India is mute on her fate, most importantly on the fate of Hindus in Bangladesh.110 Crore Hindus of India are mute spectators while overseas Hindus are showing resentment on the attacks on Hindus. One-time India had employed its Special Forces in far off Maldives to revert the military coup and restore the deposed President. Bangladesh is next doors. Will Bhutan trust us in light of Bangladesh fiasco? Hence Col Mueller is vindicated. The foreign militant hand in Bangladesh is staring at India also. The ‘surgical strike’ and Balakote were political compulsions having suffered heavily at the hands of Pakistan at Uri and Pulwama. But why aren’t Special Forces unleashed to strike inside Pakistan immediately after a terror strike in J&K, for which they are well known.
For 3 years IPKF fought militancy in Srilanka but forgot the lessons learnt. Srilanka employed small self-contained Special Forces Teams in the LTTE held forests during IPKF operations. They would lie doggo, observe & ambush LTTE when the opportunity arose. Srilanka, a small country uprooted militancy from its soil like this. When they ruthlessly killed ‘top militant leader’ Prabhakaran and his family, world made lot of hue and cry, imposed sanctions for human rights violations but Srilankadidn’t relent. We must also be ruthless in eliminating terrorists, perpetrators and their supporters lest some foreign hands upsets our applecart. Continuous hammering of the perpetrator is necessary while being proactive in monitoring ourinhibited and forested areas with close watch on the administrative set up near the LoC.
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