[Yojana September Summary] Counter-Terrorism Scenario in J&K – Explained, pointwise

Introduction

It has been 3 years since the Government of India revoked the special status of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir. Two new Union Territories (UTs) of J&K and Ladakh were created. This constitutional change was a watershed moment for the region, marking a break from the past to herald a new administrative and security approach to this strategically important region. Several initiatives implemented by the J&K UT administration and security establishment since then. The change in the counter-terrorism scenario in J&K demonstrate that a change is afoot on the ground, which offers hope for a better future.

The J&K UT, has been afflicted by the problem of cross-border terrorism, separatist violence and armed militancy for the last 3 decades. Recent events like targeted killings of religious minorities, migrants, security forces personnel and civilians, have drawn attention to the evolving security situation in J&K. These developments give an impression of a region in the throes of violence and instability. However, the reality is otherwise. Today, the Indian security establishment firmly controls the situation in J&K. Actions like targeting the terrorist sympathisers, practising humanitarian gestures and proactively countering anti-India propaganda have considerably shrunk the manoeuvring space for the terrorists. Although there are some evolving and emerging challenges from the counter-terrorism (CT) perspective, security forces are confident of effectively tackling them.

Source: Yojana September 2022

Current Terrorism Outlook for the Region

A vital indicator of the improved security situation in Kashmir Valley is the residual strength of the terrorists operating in the region. Numbered thousands at the peak of militancy in the early 1990s; today, circumstances have changed. Current terrorist strength in Kashmir stands at approximately 163, the lowest in decades.

  Source: Yojana September 2022. Table: Terrorist Strength in Kashmir Valley. 

They primarily belong to the three terrorist groups: Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). Some are part of the local affiliates of pan-Islamic groups such as Al-Qaeda’s Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, and Islamic State J&K. However, their numbers are marginal. Security forces note that, unlike the previous times, Pakistani terrorist have been reduced to guiding and motivating the local terrorists who have taken charge of the militancy in the region.

Tackling Cross-Border Militant Infiltration

Pakistan-based terrorist groups have used the mountainous terrain in north Kashmir to sneak into the Kashmir Valley. Pakistani security establishment actively supports them by bringing infiltrating terrorists right up to the LOC in army vehicles, monitoring the infiltration routes, giving covering fire while terrorist infiltrate, and supplying sophisticated communication equipment. Militants also enter from the south of pir Panjal range, sometime through tunnels as long as 400 meters.

To counter this infiltration, security forces in the last one and half decades, have raised a highly effective three-tiered counter-infiltration grid. In this, the Indian Army forms the first tier on the LoC, followed by the second tier of paramilitaries such as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the third one of the J&K Police (JKP).

In addition, the security forces have deployed Anti Infiltration Obstacle System (AIOS) fencing and strengthened surveillance through reconnaissance drones, night-vision equipment, and hand-held thermal imaging devices.

These efforts combined have contributed to the infiltration levels going down significantly,  For example, in 2020 and 2021, the number of infiltration attempts have come down to 62 and 58 respectively. Only 72 managed to successfully infiltrate together in those two years. In 2022 there had been only 5 infiltration attempts till June, in which three terrorists managed to infiltrate. Subsequently, security forces eliminated those terrorists in encounters.

Crackdown on Terrorist Groups and their Ecosystem

Security forces have kept up the pressure on the terrorist groups in the hinterland through several Counter-Insurgency (CI) operations. These have yielded significant success by eliminating the top militant leadership and disrupting their subversive plans. Militants have been reduced to carrying out an intermittent campaign of targeted killings against soft targets.

Sustained CI operations have forced terrorist groups to join hands and operate together. Pakistan’s ISI is playing a role in bringing the groups together.

Punitive Action

Another dimension of counter-terrorism in J&K is the punitive action against the elements of the ecosystem that support the terrorists. It includes the network of the Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and terrorist sympathisers and the cadres of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI). In February 2019, The Union ministry of Home Affairs banned the JeI terming it an unlawful association. Simultaneously, the government began removing those employees who abetted secessionist and militant activities.

Since 2019, the J&K Police has arrested more than 900 OGWs under the Public Safety Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Source: Yojana September 2022. Table: Year-wise arrested Over Ground Workers

Countering Terror Financing

Countering-terrorist finances has been another focus area of counter-terrorism measures in J&K. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has launched several investigations into the cases of terrorist financing.

The MHA has set up a Terror Monitoring Group, comprising representatives of security (NIA, Central Bureau of Investigation, Intelligence Bureau and JKP) and financial agencies (Central Board of Direct Taxes, and Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs) to closely monitor terrorist financing cases. The crackdown has dramatically reduced the stone-pelting incidents which had once become a striking feature of unrest in Kashmir Valley.

Soft Measures

Another aspect of counter-terrorism in J&K is the implementation of several soft measures. These measures have been appreciated by the locals. These include exercising maximum restraint, avoiding pellet guns and minimising collateral damage during the Counter-Insurgency(CI) operations and protest demonstrations.

Since August 2019, there have been no civilian casualties during the encounters or pellet gun injuries in protest demonstrations.

Top security officials have made an outreach to the families of active militants to request their kids to surrender. In one such outreach in September 2021, senior army and police officers interacted with 80 families of active militants in south Kashmir’s Shopian, urging them to request their sons to shun the path of violence. These initiatives have deprived ISI and terrorist masterminds of significant propaganda material.

A direct impact of these steps implemented by the security agencies is the improvement in the security situation in the valley. This has boosted the local tourism sector, with tourist arrivals hitting a new high: in the first half of 2022, more than 10 million tourists visited the region, making it the most successful tourist season in Kashmir’s history.

Evolving and Emerging Challenges in Counter-Terrorism (CT) in J&K

The region faces new challenges

Radicalisation and Terrorist Recruitment

While security forces have broadly controlled the situation, a major concern is the uptick in local terrorist recruitment, primarily from South Kashmir: Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Awantipora.

A significant contributor to this local recruitment is the radicalisation of the local youth, which has emerged as the most critical security challenge.

Several factors aid the radicalisation process, including peer pressure, victimhood feelings and self-radicalisation enabled by the Salafi and Wahhabi propaganda. Furthermore cyberspace, including the dark web and social media platforms, amplifies this religious propaganda, accelerating radicalisation.

Countering this radicalisation process is a work in progress, and security forces have launched multiple initiatives to reverse the trend. For instance, the Indian Army’s ‘Sahi Raasta‘ initiative aims to bring the youth on the right track through national integration tours, sports training programmes and festivals, and skill development workshops. The JKP , too, implements a similar initiative.

Hybrid terrorists and virtual terrorist outfits

With increased CI ops and neutralisation of many active militants, terrorist masterminds have now changed their strategy to obfuscate their activities. To commit violence, they are now using terrorist sympathisers. Most of them have no criminal records and are therefore likely to escape police scrutiny. These ‘hybrid terrorists‘ are the ones who are primarily responsible for the recent acts of targeted killings in and around Srinagar. In addition, security forces have noted the proliferation of virtual terrorist groups like the Jammu Kashmir Ghaznavi Force and The Resistance Front, which are nothing but front organisations for LeT and other terrorist outfits or organisations. In response, the JKP is strengthening its human and technical intelligence capabilities. This is proving helpful in apprehending these hybrid terrorists.

Pakistan’s Information Warfare

Since August 2019, ISI’s disinformation machinery has gone into overdrive on social media platforms with anti-India propaganda. With Pakistan’s material and financial support to anti-India terrorist groups like LeT and JeM coming under the global scanner, the ISI has sought to project Kashmir’s militancy as ‘indigenous resistance‘.

In addition, it has sought to label India as a major human rights violator. This propaganda aims to draw attention to Kashmir and gain international sympathy.

This information warfare campaign by Pakistan is a significant challenge because it exploits any minor incident to create a narrative of falsehood against India and the security forces. This has the potential to undo the gains made by counter-terrorism efforts in J&K post-August 2019.

Countering these narratives will require a comprehensive national effort anchored in India’s democratic credentials and calling out Pakistan’s litany of lies. Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps is implementing a counter-response, but its efforts need national amplification.

Conclusion

It is clear that despite a flux in the regional security environment and Pakistan’s attempts to stir trouble, Kashmir’s security situation has remained remarkably calm and stable. Counter-terrorism Ops in J&K by the security forces have decisively turned the tables against Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism and its proxies. To maintain this advantage, other government agencies will need to carry the baton forward to deliver better governance and establish the writ of the sovereign.

Syllabus: GS III, Challenges to Internal Security through communication networks, Role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges.

Source: Yojana September 2022