The alienation of the post-1990 generation is a result of nearly three decades of violence in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Pulwama encounter shows that a tragedy is unfolding in Kashmir but the powers that be, backed by nationalist fervour, are smug in their belief that the ‘iron fist’ is delivering results and will resolve the problem.
The alienated youth with no fear of death is the biggest challenge we are facing today in Jammu and Kashmir. The 15 December encounter in Sirnoo village of Pulwama district, in which three terrorists, a soldier and seven civilian protesters were killed and two dozen civilian protesters wounded, is a typical example of the trend we have witnessed since 2016.
Security forces can eliminate terrorists, they can control conventional mobs of enraged people with minimum force, but they cannot control young protesters with little or no fear of death. Sooner than later, the circumstance or panic leads to disproportionate “indiscriminate firing” and large number of deaths, further deepening the divide between the Valley and the rest of the country.
Let there be no doubt that Jammu and Kashmir will always remain an integral part of the country. The moot question, however, is whether we seem resigned to controlling a territory without the soul of its people?
Counter-terrorist operation pattern
Most terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir today are locals and operate from villages, particularly in winters. The Army, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Jammu & Kashmir Police (JKP) jointly launch counter-terrorist operations based on specific intelligence. The CRPF and the JKP establish the outer cordon to keep the protesters at bay using police methods while the Army establishes the inner cordon to eliminate the terrorists. The intent is to complete the operation as soon as possible and move out of the area before the mobs get together.
The young supporters of the terrorists are also well-organised. They use spotters to report the movement of the security forces and sound an alarm, preemptively or when surprised after the first sound of firing, via social media and by using the loudspeakers of mosques. Armed with sacks of stones, the young boys rush to the encounter site from all directions to interfere with the operation and facilitate the escape of the terrorists or to quickly retrieve the bodies, which are then displayed to gather crowds. Mass funeral processions are organised and the burial is carried out with terrorists giving gun salutes.
The strategy of the terrorists is to invite disproportionate response from the security forces to highlight the ‘Kashmir under the jackboot’ propaganda and motivate the youth to join them.
When confronted by mobs, the CRPF/JKP fire warning shots, as per police methods, to deter the protesters and as a last resort use minimum force to disperse them. At times, individual soldiers or small teams get cornered by the mobs. When lynching looks imminent, they open fire, which under tense circumstances can lead to disproportionate use of force. In such situations, training, discipline, strict rules of engagement, better tactics and even modern crowd-control methods can only reduce the margin of error, no more.
Also read: Indian Army made way for government to resolve Kashmir, but politics failed
Exploiting alienation
Difficult circumstances are no justification for condoning the disproportionate use of force. All such cases must be investigated by the security forces and the guilty dealt with under the law relevant to the Army/CRPF/JKP. Failure to do so will only deepen the alienation.
Time is running out. This alienation of the post-1990 generation is a result of the continuum of violence over three decades. This generation has not seen normal life. Their psyche, frustration and anger are being exploited by religious ideologues and Pakistan.
Absence of a holistic societal and political initiative is creating conditions for the resurgence of insurgency. A wave of anger due to the killing of civilians is sweeping the Valley as well as Muslim-majority areas west and south of the Pir Panjal Range in Poonch, Rajouri and Doda districts, which have not seen any violence for a decade.
There is no dearth of fresh recruits. The terrorist leadership’s problems are how to train the new inductees, and arm them with weapons/explosives given the strong counter-infiltration along the Line of Control.
As a result, terrorists may rely more on “indirect attacks” in future, a point I have highlighted in my earlier column. In this scenario, alienated youths with no fear of death are likely to be exploited for suicide bombings as done by the Taliban/ISIS/LTTE[5] . The death of a child terrorist in Hajin has given us enough warning about the future pattern.
Reaching out is necessary
Currently, the security forces are on top of the situation. Their strategy should be to prevent the resurgence of the insurgency by further strengthening the counter-infiltration grid and by carrying out relentless counter-terrorist operations.
The killing of civilians at encounter sites must be avoided with better tactics, training and coordination. Surprise and speed must be exploited. In the event of mobs preempting the security forces, it may be prudent to abort the operation. Mass agitations must be preempted and handled intelligently as was done recently in the case of the march to Badami Bagh this Monday. At this juncture, large number of civilian deaths or any deliberate violation of human rights will set us back by years.
The politicians, media and the neo-nationalists must refrain from indulging in whataboutery on Jammu and Kashmir. It is detrimental to the interests of the nation and the security forces. There is a need for the State to reach out to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Social activists and non-government organisations must be utilised for a mass contact programme, particularly with the youth in Kashmir.
Also read: More killings, greater alienation: How the situation in Kashmir is slipping out of hand
All political parties must assist the government in taking a holistic political initiative. As I have written in my 6 December column, the time for this initiative would be ripe by the summer of 2019. If we miss this opportunity, Pakistan and the terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir will certainly seize it to give an impetus to insurgency.
Lt Gen H.S. Panag PVSM, AVSM (R) served in the Indian Army for 40 years. He was GOC in C Northern Command and Central Command. Post-retirement, he was Member of Armed Forces Tribunal.