Message from Lal Chowk. Dangerous to lower our guard in Kashmir

The fidayeen attack at Lal Chowk, Srinagar, on Wednesday dented the hopes of the people who had begun to think that terrorism in the Kashmir valley was gasping for breath. Everybody was expecting a new dawn when two heavily armed terrorists struck a police vehicle, leading to the death of one policeman. Both terrorists, who took up positions in a hotel, were also killed in the gun-battle that ended on Thursday. The attack appears to be an act of desperation, as militants are finding it difficult to keep their local support base intact. The people of Kashmir, who are sick of the activities of extremists, want the revival of normal business activity. The latest fidayeen strike has come after a gap of over two years. Such an incident had last occurred on November 11, 2007, when militants stormed the battalion headquarters of the CRPF in the state’s summer capital.
Wednesday’s incident carries a message: the security forces have to remain vigilant even when the terrorist problem appears to be coming to an end. The terrorists’ infrastructure on the other side of the border has still not been dismantled. Nor has Pakistan provided proof of having scrapped its policy of using terrorism as an instrument of state policy. There is little pressure on Kashmir-bound terrorist outfits in Pakistan to close down their camps. Infiltration from across the border may rise after the harsh winter months come to an end.
The Centre has withdrawn 30,000 troops from the state in view of the changing reality in the valley. But the latest development shows that wisdom lies in going slow. Of course, there is tremendous pressure on the militants from the security forces, but those trained to cause mayhem can always spring a surprise. So long as the armed forces remain deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) should not be withdrawn. The successive Army Chiefs had a point when they took the stand that the armed forces needed the AFSPA to carry out counter-insurgency operations effectively. Any step that can make the functioning of the armed forces difficult must be avoided. 

Source: The Tribune, Chandigarh, India.

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