The strategic community in India has remained preoccupied with Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pulwama terrorist attack on a convoy of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The unfolding situation in Kashmir, in the interim, has been dynamic in nature. The security forces moved swiftly and within 100 hours of the terrorist attack they have eliminated the entire ground leadership in Kashmir of the terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) that had claimed responsibility for the attack. Among those killed was one Kamran who was a top commander of JeM and the chief architect of the attack on the CRPF convoy. Security forces have kept the pressure on and have achieved great success. The desperate terrorists have attempted to reduce the pressure by launching a grenade attack in Jammu. Once again the desired result has not been forthcoming and the determination to rid the state from the curse of terrorism once and for all persists.
Alongside the security operations, the democratic process has remained
intact. The tense security situation in the state has not been allowed to
impact the polling schedule for the forthcoming parliamentary elections, for
which dates of polling in the state have been announced along with the rest of
the country. Elections will be held in the state for all six constituencies in
seven phases from April 11 to May 19, and the result will be declared on 23,
May.
The Election Commission has decided to refrain from holding simultaneous
assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. It has, however, given an indication
that the process will not be delayed for more than a month and will be held
ahead of the Shri Amarnath Yatra, scheduled to begin on 1st July
this year. Certain political parties have made attempts to politicise this
decision. It, however, seems to be practical and mature, since the slight delay
will facilitate a better conduct of the polls and the voter will not be rushed into
making a decision. It can be safely said that the security and political
situation in the state is conducive for the safe and fair conduct of the
democratic process and it will be completed well in time.
More significant at the moment is the ongoing investigation into
illegal flow of funds and terror financing in Jammu and Kashmir. The NIA, on 26th
February, carried out searches at premises of many separatist leaders.
Significant among these is Mirwaiz Umar Farooq; others include Naseem Geelani,
Ashraf Sehrai, Yasin Malik and Shabbir Shah and many more. Some have already been
put under arrest.
Mirwaiz who has now been summoned to Delhi for further questioning
has categorically refused citing security reasons and “conditions of
hostility.” The argument does not hold merit since he has been travelling from
Delhi onwards to the whole world and has never raised any security concerns.
Naseem Geelani, the son of Syed Geelani has also been summoned along with the
Mirwaiz; his position on the subject is not known.
There is also an attempt through the media to pressurise New Delhi
into adopting a soft approach with Mirwaiz and other separatists. Newspapers
that are aligned with separatists are printing condemnations of the investigation
by saying that Mirwaiz is holding a religious position of importance in the
state. Even Mehbooba Mufti, former Chief Minister of the state has condemned
the summoning of Mirwaiz.
The investigations are being conducted in accordance with the law
of the land. While democracy gives to all citizens the right to express views and
hold political opinions, there is no cause for seeking funds from foreign
shores for the same, especially so, from countries known to be inimical to the
interests of the nation. Under such circumstance the activity automatically
becomes both illegal and anti-national. When seen in this context the
government crackdown on the separatists is righteous and justified while being
long overdue.
Also in the right direction is the banning of the Jamaat-e-Islami
(JeI) that, while being a religious and social organisation, was actively
involved in separatist politics.
As things stand now the terrorist infrastructure in the state
continues to be under extreme stress and is all but demolished. Normal life is
going on uninterrupted with negligible incidents of stone pelting and other such
disruptions. The political process is underway in accordance with the
democratic norms of the country and soon the elected governments will be in
place at the national as well as at the state level. In the interim, the Jammu
and Kashmir Governor is doing an excellent job in administrating the state and
is in constant touch with all political parties in the discharge of his duties.
It is hoped that the NIA investigation will be taken to its
logical conclusion and any foreign hand in orchestration of violence and
disruption in the Kashmir Valley will stand exposed with the perpetrators being
punished under the law of the land. The people of Kashmir have suffered enough
due to inimical foreign interference in their lives and the time has come to
put an end to the same.
The intention of foreign based handlers in the Pulwama suicide
bomber, Adil Ahmad Dar, to create a situation of panic within Kashmir and bring
it back on to the international conflict map has not accrued the desired
results. That Pakistan is rattled by the course of events is evident by the
massive propaganda campaign that it has launched against India post the attack.
It has attempted to create a twitter storm with the hashtag #IOKValleyOfTears
that is attempting to highlight totally false human rights allegations against the
Indian army in Kashmir. Prime Minsiter Imran Khan has, in his recent
discourses, spoken openly of the persecution of Muslims in India which he says
gives credence to the “two nation theory.”
Notwithstanding these attempts to spread misinformation, the fact
is that Jammu and Kashmir is safe and progressing on all fronts. The challenge
now is to ensure that the environment is not allowed to be vitiated by the
attempts of inimical foreign powers at this sensitive point in time when
elections are round the corner. Along with the government, people too need to
remain vigilant so as to not fall into the trap of the enemy.
