The US has asked its citizens in India to exercise extreme caution in India due to crime and terrorism and issued a travel advisory on July 23, 2024, advising them not to travel to: the UT of J&K (except for eastern Ladakh and Leh) because of terrorism and civil unrest; within 10-km of the India-Pakistan border due to potential of armed conflict; portions of Central and East India due to terrorism; Manipur due to violence and crime. The advisory further cautions US citizens to reconsider travel to the northeastern states due to terrorism and violence.
Why is the US advisory at this point of time and the mention of potential India-Pakistan armed conflict; this needs to be examined between the lines – what is America’s game-plan and intentions? Concurrently, the US has sought an allocation of $100 million for Islamabad in its budget. US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu told a congressional panel that the huge sum of money would help Islamabad “strengthen democracy, fight terrorism, and stabilise the country’s economy”. Lu further added that the US was seeking to prevent Islamabad’s “further over-reliance” on Beijing.
The latest US travel advisory at this point of time and the mention of potential India-Pakistan armed conflict, needs to be examined between the lines – what is America’s game-plan and intentions
The fact that Pakistan has reached a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a new $7 billion deal would also have not been possible without a nod from the US. The new development of the US and Pakistan-backed Al Qaeda in Asia (AQIS) recruiting in J&K immediately after the recent US-Pakistan joint exercise has already been reported.
It is laughable to see the US sermonising India on freedom of religion when Indian assets and Hindu worship places are attacked/vandalised in the US and its surrogates Australia, Britain and Canada by Khalistanis supported by these countries; latest being the attack on Swaminarayan Temple in Canada, which was vandalised and painted with hateful anti-India graffiti. The US naturally sheds some crocodile tears – end of story!
There is excitement in some quarters in India over the Taliban saying that they do not recognise the Durand Line (which the Afghan and Pashtun never did anyway) and they consider Gilgit-Baltistan or rather Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) part of India. But the ones reading too much in this statement need a reality check; that this is no more than to irritate Pakistan. The Taliban is establishing massive encampments on Afghanistan border for terrorist groups like the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Hafiz Gul Bahadur (HGB) group, both of which have been openly calling for Ghazwa-e-Hind. Moreover, the Taliban-TTP-HBG-Al Qaeda-ISIS are inter-linked and subscribe to a Global Islamist Emirate.
It is laughable to see the US sermonising India on freedom of religion when Indian assets and Hindu worship places are attacked/vandalised in the US and its surrogates Australia, Britain and Canada by Khalistanis
Terrorism in J&K has transformed into a low intensity conflict (LIC) coupled with Islamic Jihad. Pakistan’s ISI, its proxies in Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizbul Mujahideen (HuM) and their front organisations in J&K have become more active. Recent terrorist incidents are both in the north as well as south of the Pir Panjal range.
High points of a recent media interview of Sham Shear Khan, the so-called deputy supreme commander of HuM, which also reflects the ISI propaganda and modus operandi, include the following: Kashmir is a disputed territory recognised by the UN; Kashmiris (Hindu/Sikhs included) who moved out from J&K were because of India’s policy at that time – not even 200 ‘Kashmiri Hindu-Sikhs’ have been killed in J&K since the exodus; there was a time when some territory exchange was possible but that time is gone; our strategy is to hit the Indian military hard with maximum engagement, not letting even a platoon relax – as is presently happening; infiltrate the administration; recent attacks in Kathua, Kukgam etc. is because we have civilian support, as also in interior areas of J&K; locals are unhappy with outsiders being settled in Jammu region; we temper the tempo of operations (high/low) depending on situations; our Mujahideen need more weapons and missiles; Pakistan is a nuclear state and Kashmiris must rule themselves whether in India, Pakistan or as an independent entity; we are prepared to talk but not with a gun pointed at us, as India is doing.
In the above backdrop it is ironical to read media headlines in our mainstream media like “11th soldier killed in July as terrorist activities surge in J&K” and “J&K LG sacks 4 ‘more’ government staffers, including 2 cops, for terror links” – sacking anyways doesn’t mean they are in prison. The fact is that the ISI has successfully infiltrated the civil administration and the J&K Police and these incidents are not the first time. According to a veteran-scholar who has served in intelligence and monitors terrorism, “The J&K Police and civil administration remains heavily infiltrated by terror sympathisers and those on ISI payroll. Unless we neutralise these elements and overground sympathisers, giving free hand to the Army to conduct operations, it will be difficult to contain terrorism.”
Terrorism in J&K has transformed into a low intensity conflict (LIC) coupled with Islamic Jihad. Pakistan’s ISI, its proxies LeT, JeM, HuM and their front organisations in J&K have become more active
He further says, “Police and civil administration in all states are hand-in-gloves with government of the day, terrorists/insurgents and local thugs. Many times FIRs of rape and killings against army personnel, including units, were lodged by police and even District Magistrates. China and Pakistan know how weak our system is and how political leaders will do anything if any political or economic benefit accrues to them. They don’t care a damn about morale or efficiency of the Army. Consequently the Army is super-conscious in conducting ambushes, raids or killing insurgents/terrorists. It is affecting effectiveness of operations and morale at the cutting edge. Nowhere in the world is the Army mistreated like here. China has free hand in Xinjiang and Tibet and Pak army in Balochistan and Pakhtunkhwa. That’s how they are able to control the situation. Cry my beloved country…..”
Above is the naked truth spoken from the heart but politicians have a battery of ‘yes-men’ to rubbish every word. In fact, the Army may be asked to issue such a denial – as has happened in the case of the hair-brained Agneepath scheme. But the ‘yes-men’ have no answer when asked if this concept is so damned good why were Agniveers not inducted first in the police and CAPF? Can the government and the defence minister answer this?
Nowhere in the world is the Army mistreated like India. China has free hand in Xinjiang and Tibet and Pak army in Balochistan and Pakhtunkhwa. That’s how they are able to control the situation. Cry my beloved country
Apparently for the political hierarchy there are more important issues of votes, upcoming by-polls and of course planning for the next big election five years hence – purchasing more states with Andhra and Bihar having shown the way? The fact is that the initiative in J&K lies with the ISI and we react to the developing situations. As is clear from the above, ISI’s strategy is to hit the Indian military repeatedly hard. And what are we doing – counting terrorists killed – doing nothing against the Pak army? When will we switch to a proactive strategy and wrest the initiative?
India is not in the crosshairs of Pakistan alone but also global players who want to de-stabilise India, as well as regional and global terrorist organisations. The rising threats and our required response covered in these columns recently can be read here. We have the option to stand up and act or remain the frog in the well ignoring what is coming.
-The author is an Indian Army Veteran. Views expressed are personal.
The author is an Indian Army veteran. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
