BY D.C.PATHAK.BY D.C.PATHAK Some strategic experts known for their slant against the security policies of the Modi government have declared that the constitution of the State Investigation Agency in J&K to probe into terror-related cases, demonstrated the ‘failure’ of NIA in dealing with the problem of terrorism in Kashmir even after the governance of the border state had been taken over by the Centre by turning it into a Union Territory in August 2019.Strategic experts who are known for their stance against Modi’s security policies have stated that the establishment of the State Investigation Agency in J&K, which was established to investigate terror-related cases, showed the ‘failure of NIA in dealing the problem of terrorism within Kashmir’ even though the Centre had taken control of the administration of the border state and made it a Union Territory in Aug 2019.This off-the-cuff ‘verdict’ is as illogical as it is ill-informed and typically illustrates how tinted writings run down the government on every policy issue.This’verdict’, which is often made out of thin air, is as absurd as it is ignorant.It usually illustrates the way that government policy decisions are distorted.
They seek to provide an ‘intellectual’ route to politics by proxy.They want to offer an ‘intellectual route’ to politics through proxy.
The critics would not say that the government did not make a serious effort to handle a national security issue but would raise the question as to why was the threat not eradicated totally at one go.While they won’t say the government didn’t make serious efforts to address a national security problem, critics will raise the question of why the threat was not eliminated completely in one go.Kashmir apart, this is what seemed to be the content of the critique on the handling of the Corona pandemic or the policy of working for economic recovery bottom up through the calls of ‘vocal for local’ and ‘make in India’.This was the criticism on the handling the Corona pandemic and the policy of working to recover the economy bottom up, despite Kashmir being the focus.
Any advance of the secular policy of ‘development for all’ or a tough approach on national security matters, became problematic for the opposition if it did not fit in with its Minority politics, the handle often used by it against the Modi government.If the opposition did not agree with the Minority politics it uses against Modi, any advance in the secular policy of “development for all” or a hard approach to national security matters became problematic.
The Kashmir scenario can be examined in its broad spectrum in this context.This context allows us to examine the Kashmir scenario in all its facets.
Kashmiris like common citizens any where, desired to have development and security and lead a life of peace and prosperity without getting entangled in politics too much.Like all citizens, Kashmiris want to live in peace and security.
In historical terms the problem in J&K has been one of mis-governance over decades after Independence, by the valley -based political parties whose leaders ran a corrupt regime that marred development and patronised separatist forces for deriving political advantage.Historically, the problem in J&K was caused by mis-governance.
This was due to the corrupt valley-based political parties whose leaders supported separatist forces and hampered development.For this they injected Pakistan in the equation between the people of the state as a whole and the Centre.
They also included Pakistan in the equation between peoples of the state and the Centre.The governments preceding the advent of Prime Minister Modi on the scene, followed a policy that implicitly supported the ‘Muslim’ character of the composite state which, somewhere, encouraged Pakistan to play the communal card in Kashmir.
Prior to the arrival of Prime Minister Modi, the governments had a policy which implicitly supported the Muslim’ nature of the composite state.This encouraged Pakistan to play the communal cards in Kashmir.
The valley parties remained passive even when the Pak-instigated plan of the Islamic militants to drive Pandits out of the valley in the beginning of the Nineties, was being executed.Even though the plan to drive the Pandits from the valley by the Islamic militants in the early Nineties was being implemented, the valley parties were not involved.
That significantly was the time when Pakistan- flush from the success of the anti-Soviet armed campaign in Afghanistan was tinkering with the idea of replicating the Afghan jihad in Kashmir.This was also the time that Pakistan, still flush with success from its anti-Soviet armed conflict in Afghanistan, was trying to replicate the Afghan jihadi in Kashmir.
Pakistan got the most credit for the victory in Afghanistan, from the US and Robin Raphael, the then Under Secretary of State for South Asia, old timers recall, almost threatened to intervene in Kashmir in favour of Pakistan.The US and Robin Raphael (the then Under Secretary for State for South Asia), gave Pakistan the majority of the credit for victory in Afghanistan.
Old timers recall that Raphael almost threatened to withdraw support for Pakistan in Kashmir.The leaders of the Kashmir parties were utterly silent over these developments.
These developments were not discussed by the leaders of the Kashmir parties.What is amazing is their blatant opposition to the well-considered policy of the Centre that ‘talks and terror don’t go together’, they have all along refused to take cognisance of the Pak-sponsored cross-border terrorism in their desperation to preserve their shrinking base.
It is remarkable that they are so opposed to the Centre’s well-thought policy of ‘talks and terrorist don’t go along’.They have refused to acknowledge the Pak-sponsored cross border terrorism in an effort to protect their base.
Regardless of the lobby sought to be built by Pakistan internationally against the decision of the Indian Parliament to scrap Article 370 of the Constitution that conferred special status to J&K and the narrative framed by the opponents of the Modi government that the Kashmiris had felt diminished, the fact is that the common people of the border state have- because of the temporary step of J&K having been converted into a Union Territory, the advantage of both central and state governments serving them from Srinagar to provide a corruption, free rule, an equitable regime and a well- monitored development process.Regardless of international lobbying by Pakistan against the Indian Parliament’s decision to remove Article 370 from the Constitution which conferred special status J&K, and the narrative that the Modi government opponents framed as claiming that Kashmiris felt diminished, the truth is that the common people living in the border state have benefited from the temporary conversion of J&K into a Union Territory.
This allowed both the central and state governments to serve them from Srinagar and provide a corrupt, free, and equitable rule and a well-monito monitor the development process.Results are showing and common citizens primarily concerned with livelihood issues are seeing better opportunities.
Common citizens who are primarily concerned about livelihood issues are now seeing more opportunities.The concerted propaganda of the political leaders with vested interests and the separatists about the population becoming ‘totally alienated’ against the Centre, is sounding empty.
It is sounding hollow the concerted propaganda by political leaders and separatists about the population being ‘totally excluded’ from the Centre.Of course, in the sphere of development there are no limits and in a situation of backlog of unfulfilled promises, there is always some scope for speeding up things.
There are no limits in the development sphere and there is always room for improvement.But the fact that there is visible economic progress under the rule of the Centre, can not be denied.
It is evident that the Centre has made visible economic progress.
It is not surprising that anti-Modi voices in the state as also at the Centre have played up the ‘security vs suppression’ argument to find fault with the handling of Kashmir since August 2019.It’s not surprising that anti-Modi voices at the Centre and in the state have used the’security against suppression’ argument to criticize the handling of Kashmiri since August 2019.No doubt the abolition of Article 370 did create prospect of increased militancy and disruption in a state where separatists and pro-Pak elements had ruled the roost in the regimes of the valley-based parties.
The prospect of more militancy and disruption was created by the abolition Article 370.This is a state in which separatists and proPak elements had ruled over the state-based parties.Enhanced presence of armed forces and stricter controls on public communications were necessarily required for a period.For a time, a greater presence of armed forces was necessary and tighter controls on public communications.
A well monitored system of Intelligence based counter terror operations continuing as before guaranteed minimal collateral damage and took care not to cause any avoidable harassment of the civilians.The continuation of counter-terrorism operations based on Intelligence was monitored closely and prevented collateral damage.
It also ensured that civilians were not harassed.This has produced good results.It has had good results.Pakistan expectantly stepped up infiltration of terrorists and mobilisation of its agents and acolytes and consequently the encounters against terrorists also became more frequent.
Expectantly, Pakistan increased its infiltration of terrorists as well as mobilisation of its agents.As a result, encounters against terrorists became more frequent.
Pro-Pak lobbies and separatists highlighted the accelerated counter-terror drive to raise the bogey of ‘suppression’.Separatists and pro-Pak lobbyists highlighted the intensified counter-terror drive in order to raise the bogey that’suppression’.
Pakistan clearly aimed at disrupting Kashmir’s economic growth development requires peace and tried to activate ‘lone wolves’.Pakistan clearly wanted to disrupt Kashmir’s economic growth, development requires peace, and attempted to activate ‘lonewolves’.
It had the wherewithal to deploy a few indoctrinated youth supplied with small firearms, for targeting an innocent non- Muslim worker, a Pandit trader or even a serving Kashmiri policeman to destabilise the environ.It was able to send a few young indoctrinated people equipped with small guns to target an innocent non- Muslim worker or a Pandit trader, as well as a serving Kashmiri policeman, to destabilize the surrounding.
J&K administration was known to be heavily infiltrated by pro-Pak elements and the UT government was required to give a much closer attention to the vital task of weeding them out taking recourse to Article 311 of the Constitution in appropriate cases.The J&K administration was infiltrated heavily by pro-Pak elements.
The UT government had to pay more attention to this vital task and invoke Article 311 of Constitution in the appropriate cases.This was as important as expediting development.
This was just as important as speeding up development.Moreover, it would be advisable for the UT government to get all Deputy Commissioners to hold weekly meetings with citizens at different locales and in a secure setting, to give comfort to law abiding citizens and ascertain the requirement of financial help for young entrepreneurs and assistance to boys and girls through scholarship for higher studies within the state and outside.
It would also be a good idea for the UT government that all Deputy Commissioners hold weekly meetings at various locations and in a secure environment, to comfort law-abiding citizens and determine the need for financial assistance for young entrepreneurs, and to provide scholarships for girls and boys to higher education within the state.This practice must come into play it is a key indicator of normalcy.
This is a crucial indicator of normalcy and must be implemented.It should be presumed that the common Kashmiris are a peace-loving lot and that the Pak agents and mischief makers were in a small minority.
It is safe to assume that Kashmiris are peaceful and that Pak mischief-makers and agents are in a minority.This distinction should never be lost sight of.This distinction should not be forgotten.If the new spate of violence against innocent civilians compelled a further deployment of armed force in the vulnerable regions of the valley, the administration should be able to give out the message that this was not at the cost of the common Kashmiris but was directed against the anti-national elements.
The administration should be able communicate to the people that the deployment of armed force was not for the benefit of common Kashmiris, but against anti-national elements if there is a new spate of violence against innocent civilians.
Coming back to the issue of creation of SIA by the UT administration at Srinagar, it needs to be mentioned that the state Police everywhere is in any case free to take cognisance of any crime including an act of terror or an offence pertaining to money.
Recalling the creation of SIA at Srinagar by the UT administration, it is important to note that all states police are free to investigate any crime, including terrorist acts or money-related crimes.Section 7 of NIA Act authorises the central agency to hand over a case to the concerned state government wherever it considered it necessary.
The central agency is authorized by section 7 of the NIA Act to turn over a case to any state government it deems necessary.State Police and Intelligence fully cooperate with the central agencies in handling national security related cases because in our federal scheme of things state is the lead player in the sphere of law & order where as the Union Government is charged with the responsibility of safeguarding national security with a complementary role being played by the state governments.
State Police and Intelligence cooperate fully with the central agencies when handling national security-related cases.In our federal scheme, the state is the principal player in the spheres of law and order.
The Union Government is responsible for safeguarding national security while the State Police and Intelligence play a complementing role.In J&K emphasis is being put on the responsibility of state Police for.J&K places emphasis on the state Police’s responsibility.
countering the threat of terrorism and the establishment of SIA under the state Intelligence chief is a further acknowledgement of the fast developing capabilities of the state machinery for probing into various dimensions of terror activity including funding, underground network and sources of radicalisation.Countering terrorist threats is a priority.The establishment of SIA under state Intelligence chief is a recognition of the rapidly developing capabilities of state machinery to probe into different dimensions of terror activity, including funding, underground networks and sources of radicalisation.
SIA enhances the Centre’s outreach in a state where the enemy had made ground level penetration necessitating greater involvement of the local Police and Intelligence in the task of unearthing it.SIA increases the Centre’s reach in a state where enemy has made ground-level penetration, necessitating greater involvement by the local Police and Intelligence to the task of uncovering it.As a matter of fact the state needs more Policemen in plain clothes to do Intelligence work uniformed men are already quite visible.To do Intelligence work, the state requires more policemen in plain clothes.The uniformed men are well-known.SIA can also help families in getting any wayward youth back into the mainstream.SIA can help families to get any troubled youth back into mainstream society.On the whole therefore SIA takes the agenda of NIA forward with the reassuring message that state administration was now quite on top in handling the security threats facing J&K.
SIA is a positive step forward in the agenda of NIA with the reassuring message to families that the state administration was doing a great job handling security threats facing J&K.
In India, parties in the opposition are not yet putting national security issues above politics so much so that even the constitutional mandate for all citizens to respect the national flag and anthem is being put into question.India’s opposition parties aren’t yet placing national security concerns above politics.In fact, the constitution mandate that all citizens respect the flag and anthem has been questioned.
As India is governed by an elected political executive that came up on the basis of ‘one man one vote’ and carried no denominational stamp, scare of ‘majoritarianism’, it seems was being raised apparently to justify minority politics.India is governed by an elected executive that was founded on ‘one man, one vote’.
It also did not carry any denominational stamp.This seems to be being used to justify minorities politics.Constitution is preserved by the people, by the concept of equality before law and above all by Supreme Court the country’s highest constitutional court.The Constitution is protected by the people.
This concept of equality in law, and most importantly the Supreme Court, the country’s highest constitutional court, are the foundations of the Constitution.Politics of caste and creed must end if India has to rise to the position of a global power.
India must stop being a world power by embracing politics of caste and creed.The end of this divisiveness regrettably is not in sight.This divisiveness is unfortunately not ending.In the context of J&K this is allowing Pakistan to tinker with our domestic scene by projecting Kashmir as a Muslim issue and questioning the electoral steps of the Centre in the state as also the measures aimed at giving equitable treatment to all citizens there.
This is inexcusable when it comes to J&K.It allows Pakistan to manipulate our domestic scene by projecting Kashmiri as a Muslim issue, and asking questions about the electoral steps taken by the Centre in the State as well as the measures that aim to give equal treatment to all citizens.
Kashmir will be best served by a head who realised that the challenge there was not merely of development but of handling development security interface and got the best out of the administration and the Intelligence machinery.A head who understood that Kashmir was not just about development, but also of managing the development security interface will serve the interests of Kashmir better.
The Sino- Pak axis is a source of aggravated threat in Kashmir because it is founded on CPEC that was built on the territory of POK ceded by Pakistan to China against India’s objections.Because it was founded on CPEC, which was constructed on POK territory that Pakistan gave to China in defiance of India’s objections, the Sino-Pak axis poses a threat to Kashmir.
The return of pro- Pak Emirate at Kabul provides a further cause of concern for India because of the likelihood of Pak ISI inducting Taliban militants into the proxy war against India.India is also concerned about the possibility of Pak ISI inducting Taliban militants to the proxy war against India.
Both Kashmir and Punjab need special attention of the Modi government from the point of view of national security.The Modi government must pay special attention to Punjab and Kashmir from the perspective of national security.
(The writer is a former Director Intelligence Bureau).(The writer is a former Director Intelligence Bureau).
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