Kashmir is on the boil again. This time a spate of killings has rattled the security and state dispensation. Concerns have emerged over the new hybrid mode of terrorism in the valley which has proven to be difficult in tackling. The government is visibly worried about the growing radicalisation and growing killings in the valley. There is however no discernible pattern in the killings- a TV artist, two policemen, a teacher and very recently a bank manager. This potentially worrying situation warrants the adoption of new and innovative strategies to tackle and eradicate this new nature of hybrid terrorism from the valley.

Roots of the killings

Before going into the nature of the strategies, it is necessary to understand the root of the killings. The economic crisis in Pakistan has been a crucial factor in the inability of the military-jihadi establishment to finance terrorism in the valley. While the Pakistani deep state and the armed forces are largely out of that financial meltdown purview yet the economic crisis has seriously undermined the finances of the deep state. Unlike the 1980s when Pakistan received massive funding from the west to debilitate the Soviet forces in Afghanistan, the situation has dramatically changed now. C Raja Mohan, a senior fellow at the Asia Society policy institute has argued that owing to stupendous economic development of India since the 1990s and 2000s has dramatically altered the situation.

The arrival of Modi government in power in 2014 and the adoption of an iron fist approach on Kashmir contributed to the dramatic decline in militancy in the valley in these years. Further the unprecedented constitutional change in Jammu and Kashmir has marked a further decline in terrorism related incidents.

The cadres of terrorist groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba etc. are appearing increasingly frustrated over their inability to undertake new spectacular attacks against the state, military and religious minorities. This speaks volumes of how the terror groups have taken to engage in wanton killing of soft targets like civilians.

Nipping the problem in the bud

Firstly, the dispensation at the centre should bring in tougher laws on the lines of UAPA to give more stringent punishments to the promoters of terrorism and radicalism in the valley. While the possibility of misuse cannot be totally ruled out yet a strict vigilance and caution in exercising these laws could help in make rational use of such laws.

Secondly, the armed forces should be given more liberty to tackle this new menace of hybrid terrorism. Measures such as preventive detention of suspected militants only after a thorough verification of their activities, operation all out 3.0 to eliminate all terrorists present in the valley, buying better equipment such as assault rifles, RPGs, sniper rifles, armoured vehicles etc. from the domestic or foreign firms can help a lot.

Thirdly, India can further diplomatically isolate Pakistan on the world stage that in spite of a change in regime, Pakistan is continuing its age old policy of fomenting terrorism in the valley. But while adopting such a strategy care should be taken to specifically highlight the hazards of Pakistani and Afghan terrorists belonging to the Haqqani network and Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan infiltrating India and attacking targets need to be highlighted.

Fourthly, the civil society has a crucial role to play. Hindu and Muslim organizations should join hands to spread the message of peace and amity in the valley. Former prime minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s message of ‘Jamhooriyat, Insaniyaat, Kashmiriyat’, should be reiterated in a concerted push to isolate the extremist elements. People across the nook and corner of J&K should spread the message that hate, extremism and conservatism cannot be allowed to win in the valley and the fact that the more the terrorists kill people or hurt them, the more the people will be strengthened by their resolve to eliminate the menace of extremism from Jammu and Kashmir.

Conclusion

India is a civilizational state with cosmopolitanism and diversity flowing in its very veins. However hate cannot be allowed to win and any attempt to disrupt peace in the country and in this context, the valley will be thwarted by the state in general and by the people in particular.

– The writer is currently working as a Research Associate at Defence Research and Studies (dras.in) and is a columnist. The views expressed are personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda