Jingoism cannot protect Jammu and Kashmir

Source: This post has been created based on the article “Jingoism cannot protect Jammu and Kashmir” published in The Indian Express on 10^th October 2023.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 Internal Security — Security challenges and their management in border areas.

News: This article discusses the current internal security challenges in Jammu & Kashmir in light of the recent Anantnag encounter which led to the death of India’s security personnel. It also proposes greater vigilance, stronger security infrastructure, and not jingoism to counter this threat from across the border.

What are the different kinds of intelligence used for anti-terrorist operations?

To deal with the challenges of conducting anti-terrorist operations in deep forest mountainous terrains, 2 kinds of intelligence inputs guide counter-terrorist operations on the ground – human intelligence and technical intelligence (humint and techint). Techint is further subdivided into communication (comint) and image intelligence (imint).

While humint inputs need to be analysed very cautiously before being acted upon, techint inputs are more reliable and precise.

Army units in the Kashmir Valley have limited access to reliable humint since they come from different regions and lack knowledge of the local language, ethos and terrain.

The local police — the civil thanas and state police special branch (CID) — can utilize humint better.

At the same time, it’s not easy to raise reliable human intelligence assets especially in Kashmir. There is a risk of the sources playing a double role to serve their masters from across borders.

What is the role of external state actors in terrorism in J&K?

A vital aspect of terrorist violence in J&K is it being driven, guided and financed from across the borders by the Pakistan Army and ISI.

They are known to motivate, train and infiltrate suicide squads with the help of espionage networks hiding in our country. They also pay these suicide squads handsomely.

However, Pakistan today is under tremendous pressure because of the condition of its economy.

What should be done?

1) Sports should be kept away from our animosity against the Pakistani army and government. Jingoistic calls to stop playing against the Pakistani cricket team should be avoided.

2) Remotely guided rockets launching unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) is a good option if LeT strikes inside our territory, instead of launching air and naval attacks on Pakistan.

3) It would be neither prudent nor realistic to look to foreign powers (such as USA, China) to resolve our internal security challenges.

4) It would also be naïve to believe that Pakistan will give up militancy in J&K and restore peace if we talk with them. We must strengthen our security infrastructure.

5) Pak ISI sleeper cells spread all over our country must be detected and neutralised.

6) Sections of Muslim youth should be deradicalised by releasing them from the stranglehold of mullahs in madrasas and mosques and providing them access to schooling.
For e.g. in Kashmir, the Peer Muridi (Sufi) form of Islam has been overshadowed by the Wahabi sect.

7) India should also try its best to win the hearts and trust of the Kashmiri Muslims who will benefit from increased tourism. They should be made to realize that violence is costing them dearly.

8) Career options outside J&K should be offered to Kashmiri youth willing to leave their homes to earn livelihoods.

9) In counter-terrorist operations, it is wiser to divide the force and use smaller contingents for the commander to keep watch from a safe distance.