Chart a clear course in J&K Sep 20, 2016 Lt Gen OP Kaushik (retd) An integrated strategy must at all levels to counter terrorism

Chart a clear course in J&K Sep 20, 2016 Lt Gen OP Kaushik (retd) An integrated strategy must at all levels to counter terrorism  Chart a clear course in J&K By Lt Gen OP Kaushik (retd) THE fidayeen attack in Uri has, once again, highlighted the need to immediately adopt an active and a sustained ... THE fidayeen attack in Uri has, once again, highlighted the need to immediately adopt an active and a sustained strategy to eliminate terrorism from J&K. The strategy should include an integrated approach at all levels — administration, political, social, religious, psychological, diplomatic and military. A broad outline of the important features of the proposed strategy are discussed below. Firmness by the state police and administration in maintaining law and order situation is the most urgent requirement. The situation has aggravated because of the poor response by the administrative services that stand almost paralysed under the present circumstances. We need to review whether we should, for the time being, introduce Frontier Administrative Service, comprising selected best officers — with pronounced national feelings — from the military, civil services, paramilitary forces, police and any other field. This service provided yeoman’s service in NEFA during the 1950s and ’60s, and was mainly responsible for the efficient administration of the area which led to its integration with the country. It is a fact that an administration which can be paralysed by a stone-pelting crowd cannot be expected to fight terrorism. The ruling party in the state as well as the opposition have adopted a soft and permissive attitude towards people collaborating with terrorism. The government must adopt a professional and strict approach in dealing with collaborators. Militancy has survived and, in fact, prospered because of the help it has received from its background supporters. Action must be initiated against such supporters. This will help in breaking ‘ideological motivation’ and drying up resources which the terrorists enjoy among the local people. Strict checks must be imposed on money, weapons and other resources coming from abroad. The State has become a big market for the illegal sale of arms, and since this trade fetches a lot of money, many unemployed youths are getting drawn to this business. A substantial part of the aid provided by the Centre is being funnelled to militant organisations. Very stringent checks and audit as well as accountability must be imposed on the state government. The centralised control of CPOs, deployed in the State, should be given to the Army under the concept of ‘unified command’ for their optimum utilisation. There is tremendous infighting among security organisations. Mere lip service has been provided in harmonising their combined efforts. What we have in the State is an ad hoc creation called ‘unified command’. It is presided over by the Chief Minister who is naive and has no experience of handling counter-terrorist operations. On account of her anti-Army attitude, the Army has no faith in her and does not consider her worthy of confidence. Historical experience — nationally and internationally — provides clear evidence that all security forces must work under the command and control of a ‘Unified Commander’ from the Army. Efficiency of the state police should be reinforced by drawing from other state police forces on a temporary basis. The J&K Police today is thoroughly compromised and is most reluctant to register cases against terrorists. It is primarily due to this reason that the law and order situation in the State is worsening every day. The identification and removal of subversive elements from government and semi-government organisations is next. These elements, in a covert manner, are terrorising the loyal section of the population. The flow of government money to militants is also taking place through these elements. Sustained psychological operations, through all forms of media, must be undertaken on a daily basis to ‘disenchant’ the population with militants and develop a feeling of national integration. Media contribution in tackling terrorism has been negligible so far. At the same time, a planned and deliberate denial of media support to the militants should be ensured. We must prepare the population mentally to reject terrorism. It should be achieved through psychological warfare based on posters, newspapers, television, radio and books put together for this specific purpose by professionals and made available free, or at very cheap rates, to the public. The Army must be given clear directions to deal firmly with external forces aiding and sheltering terrorists. This will demand engagement of Pakistani posts across the LoC, where terrorists are assembled to be infiltrated into the Valley. Effective sealing of the borders and strict vigilance along the LoC, achieved by a policy of ‘shoot to kill’ anybody crossing the border illegally, must be implemented. The more aggressive use must be made of our commando units in flushing out and liquidating terrorists. They should also be utilised for organising raids on militants’ camps in the PoK. Pakistan has ignored our numerous demands to shut down these camps. We should now take initiative on our own to plan and launch commando strikes on terrorist camps. Terrorists must be forced to feel unsafe, wherever their hideouts are — in the Valley or PoK. Terrorists need to be terrorised by active and continuous operations against them day and night, in all seasons and all places. More Rashtriya Rifles units should be raised, based on local recruitment from J&K and permanently locating these in terrorist-affected areas. These units should have elements of Kashmiri Pandits and surrenderees as identifiers. The Rashtriya Rifles must be so well organised, equipped, trained and officered that in the event of Army units and the headquarters pulled out of the State, they can manage the internal situation in J&K on its own. Our strategy should concentrate on aggressive action to liquidate terrorism and to isolate the local population from their influence. It should also emphasise on active domination of our borders to deny any possibility of infiltration. A more aggressive and active posture against Pakistan should be adopted, considering its role in keeping the pot boiling in the Valley at all times.