Terror rears its ugly head in Kashmir Valley: Pulwama Attack

India is engulfed by surprise, pain and humiliation. The dastardly Pulwama attack that led to killing of 40 CRPF jawans and 44 injured left Indians seething with rage, anguish and vulnerability. The horrific suicidal attack in the Kashmir valley one of the deadliest attacks in the past two decades saw the return of suicidal attacks in the region. The attack carried out by a local boy in the broad day on a highway marked the resurgence of violent jihadism. As per the reports the attack was carried out by a highly radicalised 22-year old school dropout Adil Ahmed Dhar. In February 2018, he joined the Zakir Musa led terror outfit then switched allegiances and allied with Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). He rammed an explosive-laden SUV into a bus carrying the CRPF personnel. The 2500-convoy travelling in 78 vehicles became the target of the attack. Minutes after the collision, the bus burst into flames and the bodies were reduced to smithereens. CRPF jawans in the adjoining buses were prevented from coming to the rescue of the affected people as JeM terrorists rained bullets from behind. The nature of the attack, the scale of the brutality and the amount of the planning clearly indicated that it couldn’t have been carried out by an amateur.

Preliminary investigation revealed that as much as 350-kg IED explosives might have been used in the attack. The logistics of bringing such huge amounts of explosives and assembling goes on to show that an extremely skilled professional may have orchestrated the attack. Given the scale of the attack, agencies suspected role of Pakistan deep state has been making some noises on the media networks recently. Connecting the dots and available media reports, it emerges that JeM commander Abdul Rasheed Ghazi, an Afghan war veteran and IED specialist was dispatched to India around Dec 9^th to avenge the deaths of JeM commanders-Talha and Usman, nephews of Azad. Indeed, there was rather a clamour around Feb 9^th the death anniversary of Afzal Guru of a deadly attack in Kashmir Valley. Minutes after the attack, JeM claimed responsibility for the attack.

Devastating attack on the CRPF convoy travelling to Srinagar has come a day after a private school in Pulwama was struck by a bomb explosion which left 12 students injured. Initial reports claim that explosion is caused a student bag but investigators are yet to ascertain the circumstances of the incident. Every year, valley experiences some break from the terror attacks during the winter months as infiltration through the slippery mountain ranges becomes difficult. But this winter, there hasn’t been any respite from the attacks and unrelenting episodes of encounters, search and cordon operations have become an ordeal for security personnel.  As of December 2018, 223 terrorists were neutralised in 429 operations a record high in eight years. The unremitting crackdown on terror led to effective cleansing of terror elements in the valley. On January 24^th Jammu and Kashmir police declared North Kashmir district of Baramulla militant-free after the last three terror operatives of LeT were gunned down. Ten days back India has hosted the Indus water Treaty Pakistan team which inspect the Chenab basin in Jammu and Kashmir. Pulwama attack indeed asserts India’s treatment of Pakistan with kids gloves. While India has accepted the most generous water sharing Indus Water Treaty, arrangement, Pakistan continues to reciprocate with deadly terror attacks on India. Similarly, India accorded Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan in 1996 despite Pakistan’s reservations to reciprocate. In 2016, when the issue came to review, Modi regime hasn’t revoked it. For the past 23 years Pakistan enjoyed unrestrained trade access to India.

Incensed by Pulwama attack, India came down heavily on Pakistan. Mincing no words, MEA held JeM responsible for the attack and said, “The heinous despicable act has been perpetrated by the Jaish-e-Mohammed, a Pakistan-based and supported terrorist organisation proscribed by the United Nations and other countries. This terror group is led by the international terrorist Masood Azhar who has been given full freedom by the government of Pakistan to operate and expand his terror infrastructure in territories under the control of Pakistan and to carry out attacks in India and elsewhere with impunity”. Taking an indirect dig at China for thwarting India’s repeated attempts to black-list Masood Azhar as international terrorist, India appealed members to prevail on the UNSC. India added, “We demand that Pakistan stop supporting terrorists and terror groups operating from their territory and dismantle the infrastructure operated by terrorist outfits to launch attacks in other countries. We strongly reiterate our appeal to all members of international community to support the proposal to list terrorists including JeM chief Masood Azhar, as a designated under the 1267 Sanction committee of the UN Security Council and to ban terrorist organisations operating from territories controlled by Pakistan”. JeM under the tutelage of Pakistan has emerged as the most virulent terror operative. Some of the most deadly of JeM include Parliamentary attacks in December 2001 that killed 14 security personnel, 2016 Pathankot attack and the most second deadly suicidal attack in front of Srinagar secretariat car bombing which killed 38 people and  40 injured.

Heart wrenching visuals of mangled bodies, mounds of flesh scattered across the site of attack have touched raw nerve of Indians. While the first thoughts of Pakistan’s obvious involvement infuriated India, the involvement of locals and ability of the foreign agents to penetrate Indian borders enraged people in the valley. Outpouring of grief flooded the social media networks where people vented their anger and frustration. At a time, when people of every walk of life are expected to stand shoulder to shoulder to overcome brutal tyranny of external agents, disjointed, incongruent and politically motivated statements inadvertently turned the focus towards the vested interests operating within the country. Unlike other terrorist attacks, when the government and people unequivocally attributed external agents for the terror attacks, Pulwama attack changed country’s perspective towards terrorism. This attack prompted government to look inwards.

While lashing out at Pakistan for supporting, aiding, abetting and patronising terror, Jitendra Prasad, MoS, PMO termed the act an act of desperation. He added, “I call to question those who while living in India and describing themselves as mainstream Kashmir politicians tend to be apologetic about these terror activities sponsored from across the Indian soil”. He called the bluff of the intellectual brigade of India who tacitly provided cover to the nefarious terror activities in the valley. Terror sympathisers who masquerade as human rights have prevailed on the government to pardon 9730 stone pelters and repeatedly exerted pressure on culling the force strength in the valley. But ironically, these high-profile individuals, politicians and their ilk indulge in soft terrorism under the security cover.

Over the decades, India has been facing the wrath of the terror haven Pakistan which has stratified itself as hub of terrorism in the South Asia and beyond. At the India’s hour of grief while nations in the immediate neighbourhood and across the World expressed their condemnation and shared the pain, India’s western and northern neighbour have remained indifferent. Indeed, China, the brother in arms of Pakistan hasn’t issued any statement condemning the attack. Pakistan has modified its statement twice in a gap of 15 minutes after the release. The hollow statement, which reeked of caprice, malintent and callousness read- “Attack in Pulwama in the India Occupied Kashmir is a matter of grave concern. We have always condemned acts of violence anywhere in the world. We strongly reject any insinuation by elements in Indian media and government that seek to link that attack to Pakistan without investigations”. In the second statement, Pakistan replaced the India Occupied Kashmir with Jammu and Kashmir. The insincere condemnation of reducing the brutal terror inflicted by its strategic assets to mere violence reflected insensitivity of Pakistan. Aggravating the situation further, Pakistan resorted to unprovoked firing from across LoC in Poonch district. Hours after Pulwama attack, terrorists attacked a police station in Shopian district. These two events further exposed the duplicity and disingenuity of Pakistan.

Successive Indian governments have been considerate towards Pakistan which has mastered the art of asymmetric warfare. Though current regime gave a free hand to security personnel to retaliate and even carried out a surgical strike to avenge the Uri killings, Indian efforts still seem to be insufficient to extricate terror.  The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting held in the aftermath of Pulwama attack revoked Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status accorded to Pakistan inflicting a blow to a crumbling Pakistan economy. Prime Minister Modi has promised to fight Pakistan tooth and nail and assured a befitting retaliation. In the meanwhile, India received overwhelming support from like-minded nations. Hours after the attack, US strongly condemned the attack, extended condolences to the families of the bereaved security personnel and issued a travel advisory to Pakistan. Referring to the attack, White House press secretary said, “This attack will only strengthen our resolve to bolster counter terrorism cooperation and coordination between the United States and India”. A pledge from US at a time, when rifts between the US and China are widening has a huge geopolitical ramification. Besides, Pakistani Deep State’s act of unleashing terror against India might prompt America to rethink about its withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. It might prompt them to reassess the involvement of Pakistan in the Afghan peace talks with Taliban. China’s silence has undeniably exposed its credentials as patron of terror for being at the forefront in shielding Pakistan on international platforms. Till now, Pakistani generals were held responsible for terror attacks now China would have to partake the blame.

Pakistan had no qualms in waging an asymmetric warfare to foster anti-India agenda for decades. India must now use its international clout to isolate Pakistan diplomatically. Last week Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan held talks with IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde along the side-lines of World Government Summit in Dubai for a bailout package to rescue its sinking economy. India should use its 3% voting rights to stall the package. Further it must exert pressure on FATF to monitor diversion of finances to terror conduits. Besides these outstanding events, India shouldn’t be averse to Balkanisation of Pakistan, severing diplomatic ties and impose pre-conditions on Pakistan-friendly nations keen on doing business with India.

Simultaneously New Delhi must be well advised to refrain from falling into the Pakistani trap of using cultural ties or historical ties as a bait to backstab India. Imran Khan through his Kartarpur Sahib corridor bait effectively gave wings to his India’s policy of taking two steps in response of India’s one step forward.

Time has now come for India to take the bull of terrorism by its horns. To extricate terror, India must strike at its roots which are deeply entrenched in the ideology of the radical Islamism that advocates and eulogises Jihad. India must censure and punish the non-state actors who advocate soft terrorism. All the aspects which goes into spread of this ideology must be attacked. These includes financial conduits, source of the ideology, recruitment and indoctrination. A multipronged approach must be rolled out to monitor activities of underground and over ground cadres. In fact, radicalised individuals who are the potent executioners of terror attacks undergo years of training, planning and targeting to inflict grave damage. An effective counterterrorism approach must encompass strategies to knockdown various tiers of this non-conventional warfare. International Community has always shied away from acknowledging the role of odious ideologies to address the scourge of terrorism. Fidayeen video which emerged after the Pulwama attack underscored the impact of the hateful ideologies on terrorism. Indian intelligence agencies must keep an eagle’s eye on developments in valley, like draping the remains of terrorists in IS flags, hoisting Pakistan flags and the ideologically charged Friday sermons. Random events like the IS-style execution of a 25-year old woman in Shopian district of valley by unknown militants must be keenly invested. All the subversive theories advocating role of socio-economic parities like poverty, unemployment or fissures in society in terrorism is just a sham. The unpalatable reality of the 21^st century is that modern world is tasked to take on medieval age war stratagems that ruthlessly patronised barbaric violence and supremacy of a particular ideology.

In this election season, Indian politicians might be tempted to make irresponsible statements against current dispensation for political brownie points. Instead political parties must exercise restraint in nation’s interest. Putting differences at bay and leaders must join hands to chart out strategies for a war of terror. 

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