THE latest incident in which five soldiers were killed and two injured in an ambush of the Indian Army vehicles in Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir, indicates not only desperation of the terrorists to revive militancy in Jammu region but also the fragility of peace. Since there appears to be a pattern being followed by terrorists in carrying out ambushes on the forces, the security establishment also needs to effect some change in strategy to effectively counter the ultras. The present situation has several dimensions, so to say. Poonch and Rajouri districts are very close to the Line of Control. Owing to jungles and caves in it, and also existence of agricultural lands between the anti-infiltration obstacle system and the Line of Control, these two districts have been witnessing infiltration by terrorists. Over 20 years ago, the terrorists had set up bases in Hilkaka-Poonch-Surankote area.

 

That time, with the help of locals, the Indian Army launched ‘Operation Sarpvinash’ and flushed out terrorists. Since that action, barring ceasefire violations by terrorist-harbouring Pakistan, infiltration and major incidents did not take place in Rajouri and Poonch for several years. However, the terrorist sympathisers, overground workers were still there. Despite the rising aspirations of the youths, the separatists and terrorist sympathisers from the Kashmir Valley kept visiting this region in a bid to radicalise people and gain some foothold. Due to security establishment’s alertness, such attempts did not succeed. Call it a bit of a miscalculation or need along the Line of Actual Control with China, some of the forces were moved from this region. With setback to the separatists in Kashmir Valley especially since the abrogation of Article 370, and elimination of terrorists, the terrorists have been making attempts to shift their base in Rajouri and Poonch areas. Militancy has been raising its ugly head again in this area.

 

Already existing overground workers are providing logistics support to terrorists. Added to other aspects, drone-dropping of weapons from Pakistan-occupied territory, visits by radical preachers, use of technology, vulnerability to radicalisation in population present a scenario that needs multi-faceted handling. Terrorists have been utilising these factors, the terrain, and have adopted a pattern as seen in the past few incidents -- they launch an attack on a party, lure the forces into deep jungles bordering Pakistan-occupied territory, regroup, and ambush the forces. There is one more dimension. Pakistan economy’s downfall had kept the areas along the Line of Control peaceful for quite some time. As indicated by the recent surge in terrorist activities in Rajouri and Poonch, Pakistan appears to be again misusing the aid received from international community, to sponsor terror activities in Indian territory.

 

The members of international community providing aid to Pakistan need to be vigilant about this. Considering these aspects, there is a need to change the strategy in the region. The kinetic operation of aggressive search and cordon alone may not help in achieving the desired results for the security forces. They have to be aided by intelligence-based specific action operations. Of course, as has been proved in the latest incident of ambush, even the ‘hard intelligence’ about presence of terrorists in an area has to be responded to in a cautious manner. This has been the region in ‘no war, no peace’ situation, and the establishment need not get deceived by a patch of fragile peace. Whatever action is being taken by the forces has to be improved upon, and a firm response also must be given in tune with the ‘New India’ approach so that terror-sponsors do not resort to such misadventures.