WHEN the situation warrants it, the State is left with no other option than taking stringent steps. India is doing exactly that as is evident from Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s directions to officials to deploy full spectrum of counter-terror capabilities to tackle the situation in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). This is needed to prevent the situation from deteriorating into a festering wound. For years, the situation in J&K was allowed to go worse by the then regimes. The terrorists had a free hand to turn the ‘Paradise on Earth’ into a hell for the common people. The political establishment there made it a point to align with separatist elements and not disturb the latter. The viewpoints of foreign powers like China, Pakistan, and occassionally the US and European powers also were taken into consideration by the then Indian Governments when it came to dealing with the situation in Indian territory of J&K. Article 370 was oft-cited to block any corrective action. Hence, for years, J&K was viewed as ‘not fully integrated’. Several things changed since the dispensation under Mr. Modi assumed power at the Centre. Not only did he usher in an era of development through various big-ticket projects, but also started correcting the historic wrongs at various levels -- political, diplomatic, geographical, military, Constitutional.

 

The biggest step was abrogation of Article 370. Action against separatists, crackdown on terror-financing network, pointed response to terrorist attacks on Indian forces at Pulwama and Uri, elimination of terrorists, enhancing international awareness about J&K being inalienable part of India, were other actions. Making J&K as well as Ladakh as Union Territories was part of a strategy to restore normalcy in the strife-torn and sensitive region. Mr. Modi and Union Home Minister Mr. Amit Shah had, from time to time, stated that elections would be held soon in J&K. Hence, after taking concerted measures for some time, the Government of India waited patiently for peace to prevail and situation to be conducive for holding elections. Of course, focus remained on maintaining law and order in Kashmir Valley. But, the separatist-militant nexus backed by terror-harbouring fundamentalist Pakistan appears to have gotten new lease of life with help from some powers that are unable to digest India’s rise on international forum. Hence, in the past some time, terrorists concentrating on otherwise peaceful Jammu region appears like strategic thinking by powers using Pakistan-backed terrorists as pawns in the ‘Great Game’ of geopolitical dominance.

 

The pattern in the dastardly acts of terrorists has to be read with the political opposition utilising it to target the Centre instead of condemning the terrorists. Also, this has to be read with the latest joint statement of China and Pakistan mentioning about ‘Jammu and Kashmir dispute’. With several factors back on the scene with respect to J&K, the Government is left with no other option than to tackle it by deploying full spectrum of counter-terror capabilities. If situation warrants, and in the interest of parliamentary democracy to be restored in J&K, the Government may initiate measures beyond counter-terror capabilities too. Given the impressive track record of the Government under Mr. Modi, this may well be on plate. As reflected in the Council of Ministers, the third term of Mr. Modi as Prime Minister is about continuity and expertise. The continuity refers to policy matters including the policy about J&K. If required, it will be aided by calibrated aggression against terror networks and cross-border support to anti-India forces too.