Jaibans Singh
Security Forces operating in Kashmir
A terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on 22 April witnessed the brutal murder of 27 tourists and left many critically wounded. A group of terrorists, said to be about seven in number, descended from a nearby jungle of pine trees into the scenic meadow of the Baisaran valley in Pahalgam and shot the innocent tourists. The incident has left India and the world aghast and horrified.
The terrorists conducted their killing selectively by first confirming the religion of the victims and then shot only non-Muslims. They culminated their immoral activity in about 10-15 minutes and then disappeared into the forest from where they had emerged. Reports indicate that a majority of the terrorists were of foreign origin, possibly Pakistanis, even as two of them were locals. This input has been deducted from the language that the terrorists spoke. A so-called radical organisation, the Resistance Front, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Resistance Front (TRF)
The Reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir and Abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 created a Catch 22 situation for Pakistan. It could not carry out terrorist activity through known organisations due to intense pressure from FATF etc. On the other hand, it could not hold back due to the perceptible loss of face. The country then devised a new and novel way to keep the pot boiling by creating “The Resistance Front” (TRF).
The new entity was projected as an indigenous front of the Kashmiri people. To make it more acceptable in the western world, Pakistan gave it a non-Islamic name. The cat came out of the bag when TRF Twitter activity continued despite an internet ban in Kashmir. Investigations revealed that the main Twitter handles of the organisation were running from Pakistan. It was established beyond doubt as a front for the LeT and Hizbul Mujahideen.
The TRF denounced BJP as a party attempting to change the demography of Kashmir. “We openly declare that any Indian who comes with an intention to settle in Kashmir will be treated as an agent of RSS and not a civilian and will be dealt with appropriately,” said a TRF statement at the time of its creation.
TRF could not conduct terrorist activity for a long time due to pressure from the security forces. It has now carried out its first major strike and has again used the demography line to justify its action.
In its statement the TRF has said that more than 85000 domiciles have been issued to non-locals creating a pathway for demographic change in J&K. It has further observed that non-locals arrive posing as tourists, obtain domiciles and begin to act as if it is their own land. Consequently, violence will be directed towards those who try to settle illegally. It is being specifically stated that the government servants killed in the attack were spies and agents involved in the demographic change project of the government.
The above argument would be set aside as bizarre by any right thinking individual, but it is enough to convince some locals that the heinous crime committed was necessary to protect their rights.
The Ominous Shadow of General Asim Munir
General Asim Munir is the incumbent chief of the army staff of the Pakistan Army, an appointment that he has held since 2022. His father, Syed Sarwar Munir, was the imam of a mosque. His family is locally known as Hafiz because its members, including the general, have memorized the holy Quran. Munir’s early education was in a Madrasa.
The religious background of the general, his military upbringing in an Army been radicalised by General Zia-ul-Haq, and his service with the notorious Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) as Director General before taking over the army, makes it easy to identify him as a thorough bred Hawk of the establishment.
Munir, however, turned out to be a politician more than an Army Chief. It is open knowledge that he is responsible for the ouster and imprisonment of Imran Khan who has accused him of “dismantling the future of this country [Pakistan] to protect himself.”
The present government of the country run by Shahbaz Sharif continues with his favour. While the previous chiefs managed extensions for themselves, Munir has had legislation passed to ensure a five-year term that will finish as late as 2027.
It seems that lately Munir has realised that he is ignoring the core issue of Islamic radicalism on the basis of which his army is continuing to control Pakistan. He is also aware of the falling image of the army and knows from experience that the best way to resurrect the same is by generating an anti-India sentiment. He has, therefore, started targeting India on multiple fronts.
In an address at an Overseas Pakistani’s Convention in Islamabad on April 16, in which even the prime minister of the country was in attendance, General Munir made a speech that has been described as provocative and inflammatory the world over.
“You have to narrate Pakistan’s story to your children so that they don’t forget it when our forefathers thought we were different from Hindus in every possible aspect of life” he said while referring to India and the two-nation theory.
On the issue of Kashmir, he said, “Our stance is absolutely clear, it was our jugular vein, it will be our jugular vein, we will not forget it. We will not leave our Kashmiri brothers in their heroic struggle.”
His hate speech met with a fevered applause by the audience. Even the prime minister of Pakistan was seen clapping vigorously. Later it was described as lucid, purposeful, and visionary. The congregation, therefore, left no doubt about its full support to Munir and his misadventures.
The terrorist attack in Pahalgam came days after this inflammatory speech by Munir. Intelligence agencies have indicated that this speech may have served as a catalyst for the terrorist attack.
Another thought process advocates that the attack had already been planned before the speech was made and executed after the speech. Now, the message of a new belligerence towards India by the Pakistan army is loud and clear.
General Asim Munir addressing the Overseas Pakistani’s Convention
Planning of the Terrorist Strike
A cursory assessment gives an indication that the Pahalgam terrorist strike has been meticulously planned by professionals. Baisaran meadow, the area for the attack, was carefully selected. Dubbed as ‘mini Switzerland,’ this meadow is accessible only on foot or by pony with the road-head at about a half hour trek away. The neighbouring Pine forests offer a good hiding place and exfiltration route. The terrain, therefore, gives adequate time to conduct the strike before reaction by the state security apparatus.
The group would have arrived in the nearby forest about a week in advance for reconnaissance and orientation. A considerable effort would have been made to maintain secrecy while locating the trained terrorists in the area. The exercise would have been impossible without local support who were possibly involved in the planning at multiple levels.
Specifically, it is being said that the attack was planned by one Saifullah Kasuri who is a local LeT commander. Intelligence inputs also indicate possible involvement from two Pakistan (Rawalkot) based LeT handlers, including a man named Abu Musa. In a rally at Rawalkot on April 18 Abu Musa openly endorsed violence, and said, “Jihad will continue, guns will rage and beheading will continue in Kashmir. India wants to change the demography of Kashmir by giving domicile certificates to non-locals.”
The timing is also well planned to coincide with the visit to India by the US P Vice President JD Vance and his family; the ongoing visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Saudi Arabia; the peak of the tourist season and the speech of the Pakistani COAS. It is also notable that the annual Amarnath Yatra is scheduled to begin on 03 July and the preparations, including registration, would begin soon. Pahalgam is the 44 km route of Chhari Mubarak for the Amarnath Yatra
It becomes quite apparent that the Pakistan army with its notorious ISI and powerful militant leaders based in the country have carried out the planning and execution of this terrible attack. Any attempt to pass it off as the handiwork of a few locals is simplistic.
The Indian Response
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Government of India was quick to respond to the challenging situation. While the prime minister cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia, Home Minister Amit Shah rushed to Kashmir to take a first-hand report and meet the families of the victims.
A team of the National Investigation Agency also reached Pahalgam to assist the local police in the probe. Security agencies have released sketches of three men suspected to be involved in the attack.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met the very next day, on 24 April, and decided upon a few measures to be applied immediately. These include holding in abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism; closing down of the Attari check post; declaration of all military advisors and attaches in the Pakistani High Commission in India as persona non grata and instructions of their immediate return to their country and immediate withdrawal of the military advisors posted in the Indian High Commission to Pakistan.
The actions make it very clear that the Government of India looks at Pakistan as the perpetrator of the terrorist attack.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairing CCS meeting
The Fault Lines
There is no doubt that the Indian security forces in J&K led by the Indian army are doing extraordinary work in maintaining law and order and security in the sensitive region. They have made immense sacrifices in the conduct of their national responsibility and continue to do so. However, when something like the Pahalgam incident happens, it becomes necessary to identify the fault lines and plug them.
It seems that a considerable period of relative peace has resulted in a degree of complacency within the government, the security forces as well as the people. This is a natural consequence of combat fatigue but needs to be controlled at a particular threshold.
The agency responsible for the security of Baisaran meadow, which is possibly the local police, does not seem to have properly identified the threat perception or war-gamed and rehearsed contingency situations. It seems that the area has not been subjected to aggressive patrolling and security domination. Clearly the area required heightened police presence augmented by some means of transport like horses/ponies and resort to technology like drones, early warning systems, CCTV cameras and Intelligence, both human and technical.
There seems to be a vacuum in the information sharing processes which led to the successful transportation of the terrorists and their arms etc. from the Line of Control to the forests where again they would have stayed for quite some time before carrying out the strike.
Due to the complacency, critical standard operating procedures that had been put in place after years of experience have possibly been diluted. The required complex coordination between the various agencies involved seems to have taken a hit. Such coordination can be done only under the watchful eye of the Lieutenant Governor through regular meetings of the Unified Command, it seems that the frequency of meetings of this apex structure has reduced. The feeling is that the political establishment is focussing more on politics than the all important aspect of security.
We have to be very careful about our information projections. Making grandiose statements like Kashmir being free of terror or talking about the increasing number of tourists and onset of normalcy can lead to dangerous consequences. The media and more so the social media need to understand their responsibility when dealing with sensitive regions.
The above mind-set needs an immediate overhaul. It is time to reassess the functioning of the Unified Command and the security paradigm. The time tested system of keeping the Army overall in-charge of the security apparatus should not be tampered with.
The Way Ahead
The first and foremost requirement is to look after the families of our brother citizens who have lost their lives in this senseless and immoral violence. The central and state governments should, of course, do their bit, but, more important is the support from the entire nation.
The next issue of importance is reestablishment of the authority of the state in Kashmir. The sooner things are brought back to normal the better. Media and social media have a big role to play in this regard. Let there be a flow of credible and fact based information only. Cancellation of visits to Kashmir will exhibit a lack of national will. These should be avoided and more visits planned.
All nations have condemned the attack and extended full support to India in her fight against terrorism. This support, along with the current global stature that India enjoys, gives the government a leverage to take dynamic decisions to deal with such misadventures by inimical forces. This leverage needs to be optimally utilised.
The first few steps, as listed above, exhibit a mature and nuanced response. The national expectation, however, is of actions that cause physical punishment to the perpetrators for this horrendous act.
There is a palpable anger in the national mind set due to the recurring acts of Pakistan sponsored violence that plainly has religious bias. The call is for a more permanent solution even if it means taking some extreme steps.
The people of Kashmir have come out on the streets to agitate against the terrorist strike. All Kashmir leaders have spoken against the same. Such a response is welcome. However, the fact that the terrorists could not have carried out the strike without local support also cannot be set aside.
The region thrives on tourism, hence, creating an environment suitable for the same is the responsibility of the people more than the government. Kashmiris have to take on the responsibility of dealing with radical elements within their society on their own shoulders.
Conclusion
The saying, “Give the devil its due” applies most aptly to Pakistan’s perseverance in pursuing its evil terrorist agenda. The country keeps the pot boiling against India (particularly in Kashmir), despite all pressures by the international community.
Despite all efforts, the scourge of terrorism in India, especially the border regions like Punjab and J&K, is unlikely to be eradicated till Pakistan exists as a state. Even in the best of times India cannot lower her guard. This is a reality that our nation has to come to terms with.
If the end state of peace can be achieved only by the disintegration of Pakistan then India will need to generate the will to initiate required processes and the sooner the better.
Internal strength of the nation is as important as its security set-up. The traitors within have to be identified and dealt with an iron hand. In this, the civil society needs to extend full support to the government regardless of the party in power.
The incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Government of India has always maintained a policy of zero tolerance to terrorism. It is an experienced entity and will definitely take a nation first approach. The nation needs to retain confidence in the government and support its decisions.
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