On Issues with the Counter-Terrorism Approach in J&K – The delusion of eliminating ‘the last terrorist’

Source: This post on Issues with the Counter-Terrorism Approach in J&K has been created based on the article “The delusion of eliminating ‘the last terrorist’” published in “The Hindu” on 15^th January 2024.

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

News: The article discusses the issues with the current strategy of focusing on the numbers of terrorists killed. It suggests an alternative approach to curb terrorism in J&K.

Background:

Recently, in a terror strike in the Rajouri-Poonch districts resulted in martyrdom of 4 soldiers. This was followed by the death of 3 civilians allegedly in the military’s custody.

In this backdrop, the Director General of Police, J&K, emphasized on the number of terrorists killed.

According to the author, it cannot be denied that neutralizing terrorists is a crucial objective of security operations. However, it should not become the only factor, especially in the present context of a lower number of terror incidents.

For more on this terror attack, read here.

Why is focusing on the numbers of terrorists killed not the right strategy?

1. According to the author, terrorists cannot be eliminated to the last man.
2. The number of ‘kills’ as parameters of a successful counter-terror campaign addresses only the symptoms, and not the broader underlying causes.
3. This approach may lead to prioritizing the ends (number of kills) with a total disregard for the means.
4. Based on mala fide considerations such as primacy of short-term gains, competitive career environments, and a false sense of glory.

This has resulted in lapses such as the recent death of 3 civilians in DKG. This raises a question on the values, ethics and traditions of the security forces.

What should have been the approach?

1. There should be a focus on peace building, consolidation and conflict management.
2. Tactical-level operations, backed by psychological operations, must be people-centric.
3. Winning the hearts and the minds of the population should be a priority. This can be achieved by addressing people’s aspirations
4. Due political process, with enhanced political participation and stakeholding of the people.

Question for practice:

Winning ‘Hearts and Minds’ in terrorism-affected areas is an essential step in restoring the trust of the population. Discuss in the context of the conflict resolution in Jammu and Kashmir.