Homeland Security

Kashmir: Now or Never
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Issue Net Edition | Date : 20 Jun , 2017

The recent killing of six policemen betrayed the nadir of ‘Ramzan Jihad’ in the Kashmir Valley. Their cardinal sin being that they in their line of duty to protect the nation and its citizens, they were part of security forces operations did away with a dreaded LeT commander Junaid Mattoo.

The LoC has dissolved as a psychological barrier between civilizational India and depraved entity called Pakistan. It has become inconsequential for the murderous ideology of global jihad.

Policemen have been targeted earlier. More than a thousand policemen have been martyred, but never before, the treatment was so gruesome, so beastly. Ramzan in the Valley had never been abused with slaughter of dead bodies. The butchers were Kashmiris and their victim policemen too were Kashmiris. Their martyrdom was humiliated by riddling their dead faces with bullets. Hither-to-fore it was the foreign mercenaries for whom beheadings were game, sanctioned by Jihad and the Pak military. It however remained restricted to LoC. This jihadi bestiality has now traveled to the Valley. Kashmiri terrorists now baying for the blood of Kashmiris, are only a step away.

The LoC has dissolved as a psychological barrier between civilizational India and depraved entity called Pakistan. It has become inconsequential for the murderous ideology of global jihad. The same global jihad that during this Ramzan has reveled in claiming innocent lives in Baghdad, Teheran, Kabul, London, Manchester, Manila, Mali, Somalia, and of -course Kashmir.

Zakir Musa was dismissed by many pro- Pak apologists when he announced the arrival of global jihad in Kahmir. The stone-pelters now in turn underscored it emphatically during the encounter of security forces with LeT’s Junaid Mattoo, and subsequently during the murder of policemen.

The fine-tuning between the stone -pelters and the terrorists was unmistakable. The stone-pelters were desperate to aid the escape of Junaid Mattoo by posing a diversionary threat. Besides they played the role of accomplice in murder of policemen, by stone-pelting the reinforcements.

In the ongoing global jihad in Ramzan, everything conceivable is being turned into weapon. It could be stones in India or cars and trucks in London.

In the ongoing global jihad in Ramzan, everything conceivable is being turned into weapon. It could be stones in India or cars and trucks in London. The overarching weapon is the Jihadi ideology and the entire world of ‘non-believers’ is its enemy. So who says terror is not driven by religious ideology!

No country like the military-intelligence establishment of Pakistan has historically greater expertise in use of jihadis as both spearhead and shield for conduct of conventional and sub-conventional war. It has acquired this historical expertise in its very short history, even though it is marred by vivisection and nagging threat of implosion.

The use of jihadis by Pakistan is a religious-commercial military enterprise. The scale of economy in producing jihadis was perfected by Pakistan’s military in over a decade against the soviet forces in Afghanistan. The money came from Saudi Arabia and weapons from America.

Today it takes the Americans $ 2mn to maintain one soldier in Afghanistan, Pakistan produces and deploys a jihadi or suicide bomber for a niggardly fraction of that sum.

The jihadis are the ones who fight, the military rules the country and pursues its economic interests. A little money and loads of ideology is what costs Pakistan to sustain the jihadi war machine. This is military commerce at its worst. Yet, the military mobilizes public opinion by pejoratively calling Indians as ‘banias’ (shopkeepers).

Terrorism in Kashmir was never indigenous…The Kashmiri population was terrorized and made to succumb in the name of Jihad, with independence as footnote.

So much accustomed has Pakistan military become to wielding jihadis as the principal instrument of warfare that when confronted by them, like the TTP, it is seen floundering and in bewilderment responds with missiles, drones, bombs, fighter aircraft and tanks. None of these weapons have been spared against Pakistanis in Operation Zarb-e-Ajb. They were not spared in Balochistan either on umpteen occasions since the inception of Pakistan.

If the Indian military had adopted the same scorched earth policy, the phenomenon of stone pelting in Kashmir Valley, would never have raised its head. Why is this contrast then lost out on the pro-Pak elements? Whatever be the answer, it is surely not in the intangible realm of ‘hearts and mind’.

Terrorism in Kashmir was never indigenous. It was a substantial collateral of jihadi machinery assembled against Soviet forces in Afghanistan. Foreign mercenaries disengaged from Afghanistan poured in early 90s. The Kashmiri population was terrorized and made to succumb in the name of Jihad, with independence as footnote. The ‘accession to Pakistan’ card was played much later when Pakistani terrorists became the overwhelming component of the foreign terrorists since mid 90s.

As foreign terrorists (Pakis included) spread their terror to silence pro-India constituency in the Valley there was a concerted campaign in tandem by certain politicians, activists, pseudo intellectuals and one particular media house in New Delhi to ensure that the foreign militants and not the Indian security apparatus held sway over the population. The welter of TV discussions and articles on removal of AFSPA was perplexing. With passage of time it is increasingly becoming evident that it was to facilitate Pakistan’s strategic designs in Kashmir.

Correspondingly the local component of local jihadis kept on increasing. By the latest count there are 300 terrorists in the Valley of which the local component is nearly half and is increasing.

Curiously she chose the inauspicious occasion to reiterate that New Delhi must talk and ‘talks’ is the only way. This proxy war ploy is lost out on nobody. Talk to whom? Talk to Pakistan Military? Talk to Hafeez Saeed? Talk to Hurriyat— and other agents of Pakistan?

Kashmir has witnessed fidayeen attacks but not suicide bombings. This comfortable thought may also be short-lived. No less than half-a-dozen terrorists neutralized by Indian Army on the LoC had suicide vests on them.

The reaction of the Chief Minister on the martyrdom of six police personnel was ambivalent and confounding. Her statements carried a sense of fear of Pakistan and its jihadi machinery of which the LeT and Hurriyat are a part. The J&K police serve as the pivot for counter terror operations in the Valley by other security forces. Hence, the setback to the police force needs to be immediately overcome by a means of a massive, unsparing and unremitting counter terror campaign. The CM who also holds the Home portfolio has not displayed any such resolve. To the contrary she seemed to have abandoned the very security apparatus over which she presides.

Curiously she chose the inauspicious occasion to reiterate that New Delhi must talk and ‘talks’ is the only way. This proxy war ploy is lost out on nobody. Talk to whom? Talk to Pakistan Military? Talk to Hafeez Saeed? Talk to Hurriyat— and other agents of Pakistan? What response will there be incase talks are initiated with the agents of Pakistan? Will Hurriyat abandon its Pakistani masters, the ISI? Will the agents jettison Wahabi Islam? Will they forsake the seducing prophecy of Ghazwai Hind? Will their preference shift from Jihadi Islam to Kashmiri ancestors? Will the madrasas begin teaching about imperatives of India rather than Ummah and Shariat.

Let alone Hindus and Buddhists, the Gujjar Muslims. The Shias, the Pahadi muslims — do not want J&K to be represented by such subverted and depraved elements.

The Islamic State type brutality by Kashmiris on Kashmiris, the staring specter of suicide bombers, the arrival of global jihad, the growing component of local jihadis, the brutal jihadi war against the police, the stone pelters dissolving into overall narrative of global jihad, and an ambivalent Chief Minister — is a pernicious mix. It is an inflection point.

Whatever be the human cost, the land of Kashmir has to be rescued and reclaimed.

It is NOW or NEVER.

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The views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of the Indian Defence Review.

About the Author

RSN Singh

is a former military intelligence officer who later served in the Research and Analysis Wing, or R&AW and author of books Asian Strategic and Military Perspective, The Military Factor in Pakistan and The Unmaking of Nepal. His latest books are Know the Anti-Nationals (English) and Know the एंटी-नेशनल्स (Hindi).

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6 thoughts on “Kashmir: Now or Never

  1. Hello Indian people, please stop spreading and believing the nonsense of your leaders and Hindu extremists. Literally no one in Pakistan talks or cares about India, why does India have such an inferiority complex over Pakistan? Just live your life and focus on your country. The whole world is progressing while India is only thinking about oppressing religious groups, compare yourselves to the US or China and reality will set in.

    Here in Europe, people do not even respect Indian people, so please stop kissing up to western people and ally with Asia to strengthen the region.

  2. RSN,
    I am of the view that there would be NO solution to Kashmir issue till at least the close of 21 st Century. The vested interests of local Kashmiri leaders of whatever hue and cry , whether from politics or Hurriet, converge with the the Generals of Pakistan. Both are the beneficiary of Lashmir imbroglio. Local politicians of Kashmir valley sustain their status because of the conflict. Should it get resolved, who bothers for the state with 6 MPs of Lok Sabha— like who bothers for Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, HIMACHAL and so on. The interests of local political leaders are kept alive by the ongoing conflict. Some of them are hand in gloves with the terrorists. Same goes for Pakistan’s Generals. Should the problem be resolved, who will bother for these Generals? Because of this problem they have a hold over the life and breathing of the people of Pakistan. Nawaz Sharief tried twice but Military is too strong and it has got him involved him in Panama Leak — media is controlled by Pak army and Nawaz Sharief is like a man in the condemned cell. Generals are the real rulers of Pakistan— till they call the shot there can be no end to bloodshed over Kashmir. As regards your suggestion NOW or Never— it is in conflict with the theory of the GRAND CYCLES OF KASHMIR HISTORY — which says peace will only come at the end of 21 st Century. You don’t know about this ? Read my book : KASHMIR- DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE , published by Turning Point Publishers. Available on http://www.amazon.com and also http://www.flipkart.com.

  3. The first lesson that India has to learn is that the problem of India with Pakistan doesn’t start or end with Kashmir. India should be very clear of a few facts. Pakistan as a nation is based on their religious mandate of cleansing of the world – including India – of the kafirs or non-believers. India is their nearest enemy, old sour in their side and target of their first fury. Till Pakistan is what it is, India cannot live in peace and security. The world is what it is. China or the US or Russia, everyone has its own interests and strategy to kill two birds with one shot. India should take this reality into account and take the Pakistan problem as its own problem and deal with it by taking into account of the world reality. Atomic weapon of Pakistan is a reality and India has to find an answer to that reality in a reasonable manner. My suggestion: Pakistan problem should be handled with a comprehensive approach and not in a piecemeal manner. Help Balochistan fighters in every possible way. Divert Sind River waters by abrogating the treaty in question & quickly before China is able to construct storage of diverted Brahmputra waters. Help and encourage the Pakistani thinking liberals & Sufis. India should inform and get united the world opinion against the Pakistani terrorism at war footing. India HAS TO BE READY to answer Pakistan nuclear blackmail. Open policy if Pakistan provokes India enough it is not Pakistan but India that MAY use its atomic arsenal. Get its own missile-shield, AWAKS in place. Develop technology fast and fast enough, at whatever cost. Parallel to this approach, India must advance speed of economic development at whatever the cost – defeating internal political opposition to such fast growth. Coordinate with the anti-terrorist initiatives of other countries that are the sufferers of this menace Try to create understanding with China; give the reasons that it understand best.

  4. Dear Sir
    We all know that “Iron can be cut only by Iron”. Islamic Jihadists & Maoists are a product of this theory of spreading by Sword, fear, intimidation, killing & murder. They ie mostly their leaders & sword wielders, can only be destroyed by the means which they employ to grow. Is India ready to nuke them from Saudi Arabia to China should be our worry. Is India ready to battle them & their Anglo-Saxon masters. Is India ready to pay the price of an all out war like Vietnam for a respectable living. Do the Low mentality slaves masquerading as leaders of India’s oldest political party and some of our states can be relied upon to support a strong Hindu centre . We have missed many golden opportunities to solve our security problems – 1. In 1971 & 2. When USSR was at Pakistan border, India could have supported USSR & confronted Pakistan for a permanent solution. Mr.Singh the most potent enemies, the jaichands are within. Do we have the guts to annihilate them like China. We have to differentiate between our enemy Pakistan ie ISI , Army & Jihadists as they are the mercenaries of UK, USA, China & Saudi Arabia And Sindh, Western Punjab & Peshawar which are our land enslaved by British & Arabs. Is India economically & militarily ready for a long decisive war with all these enemies & collaborators should be our concerns & not the Hurriyat pinpricks.

  5. Thank you Col. Singh for the insight!
    Lets us face the truth. Muftis’ or Abdullahs’ who ever would be ruling J&K will never ever take a hard stand against the jihadis. At the end of the day, Wahabism was encouraged by these people only with mad zest in the mid 80s. On the top of it, the political dispensation at the central level behaved like a mute spectator as it had its own axe to grind. Eventually it has reached a level where it has seeped deep down insidiously. The local police has to reinforced after the set back before any other spectacular attack. Army has to go back to its of cordon- off and combing search operations which it used to conduct during frigid nights of 1990s. Petrified and stupefied, these locals who come out in rescuing the terrorists will run to save their back side. Having lived in Kashmir for considerable, I have gathered that the local Kashmirs never has the gumption for a street fight much less for waging a war with our mighty army. The time has come ,you have to shoot these jihadis right between the eyebrows, burn them . The local support will then soon vanish in thin air. Until you come hard relentlessly on these terrorists, the army will get played around by these kashmiri politicians cum separatists. Believe it or not, it was a concerted effort of the state govt for a very long long time to keep it burning, raise human right violations against Indian army, bring UNHRC and highlight it to such an extent that India had no other option but to give it away to Pakistan. That is why you still see a lot of activists, mainstream politicians, pseudo intellectuals coming out of no where for a cover up whenever Pakistan attempts any adventure.
    As you rightly said Col RSN Singh , it is now or never. Fighting external enemy is much easier than fighting internal enemy especially when terrorists masquerade as intellectuals and politicians.

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