Omar’s call asking for AFSPA’s revocation from parts of J&K appears prima facie tenable. Srinagar, Badgam, Samba and Jammu districts have been peaceful for years. And the army ceased counter-insurgency operations in these areas years ago. The home ministry’s latest report says that 69 police and military personnel, 47 civilians and 232 terrorists were killed last year in J&K. Even if murders unrelated to terrorism are added to this number, the state’s rate of fatalities is 3.5 per 100,000 people, which is significantly lower than the comparable murder rate in Arunachal (6.1), Jharkhand (5.5), Mizoram (4.8) or Chhattisgarh (4.2). However, the issues on the ground are more complex than what plain statistics let on. “Political stunts and comments on this complex issue have been most disastrous,” says Singh, adding, “from foreign aggressions, militant attacks to disaster relief, it is the uniformed soldier who has stood by in J&K at the peril of his own life.” For the Army and its troops stationed in J&K, AFSPA is an enabler and a facilitator for the armed forces. It is an operational exigency. “We are not trigger-happy people.Does the CM know the details of terrorist camps and the 5,000 insurgents just waiting to cross over into India?,” asks Singh.
In fact, it would be naive to condone the threat of terrorist infiltration from Pakistan and there is no reason to assume that it has changed its intentions over Kashmir. The threat from China and the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan cannot be ignored as well. Several Western media and security reports have predicted the presence of the Chinese Army in the Gilgit and Baltistan regions and POK in Pakistan. If true, this would spell disaster for the India’s security and strategic position in the long run and there could be more problems of militancy in Kashmir than India can grapple with. Many Western security think-tanks have even claimed that Pakistan has ceded Baltistan and Gilgit to China. “The need of the hour is to have total control and an iron grip over Kashmir by the central government,” says foreign affairs and political expert Suvrokamal Dutta. Calling for full powers under the AFSPA to the armed forces and security agencies, Dutta urges them to identify the militant leaders and politicians who are igniting and provoking the masses for violence. “These leaders are clearly directed, abetted and funded by their ISI bosses and Pakistan; as such, it’s important to expose and isolate them,” he says.
In fact, it would be naive to condone the threat of terrorist infiltration from Pakistan and there is no reason to assume that it has changed its intentions over Kashmir. The threat from China and the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan cannot be ignored as well. Several Western media and security reports have predicted the presence of the Chinese Army in the Gilgit and Baltistan regions and POK in Pakistan. If true, this would spell disaster for the India’s security and strategic position in the long run and there could be more problems of militancy in Kashmir than India can grapple with. Many Western security think-tanks have even claimed that Pakistan has ceded Baltistan and Gilgit to China. “The need of the hour is to have total control and an iron grip over Kashmir by the central government,” says foreign affairs and political expert Suvrokamal Dutta. Calling for full powers under the AFSPA to the armed forces and security agencies, Dutta urges them to identify the militant leaders and politicians who are igniting and provoking the masses for violence. “These leaders are clearly directed, abetted and funded by their ISI bosses and Pakistan; as such, it’s important to expose and isolate them,” he says.
Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).
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An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).
For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
IIPM Best B School India
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM's Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
