The ghastly attack on pilgrims of Amarnath Yatra has shocked the nation one more time. Though there was an intelligence input and already a mock drill had been conducted in Pahalgam, specifically to avert such strike, terrorists managed to display there upmanship again. The threat perception to this Yatra is not new. Since 1993, the then terror outfit, called Harkat-ul-Ansar, had openly threatened to sabotage it. In 1996 and during 2000-2003, we again witnessed the spree of inhuman killings of pilgrims. But after that the pilgrimage was considered sacrosanct, with the assurance from separatist organisations, mainly due to the local pressure for peaceful passage for this religious and economically lucrative Yatra. If this was the case, then why this act of terror now, where the things go wrong and what should be our response are the key questions.
Largely it is believed that Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Pakistan supported terror group and its area commander Abu Ismail was behind the attack, of course with some local support. So whatever may be the reaction from the separatists, this was a well crafted act to convey a certain message of willingness to cross the red line. Almost one year after the much discussed killing of Burhan Wani, this desperate attack on religious pilgrims must be out of frustration.
Since the killing of social media commander Wani, there is series of cleansing operations by security forces, eliminating more than 200 militants. The
success ratio of cross border infiltration has drastically gone down and already infiltrated terrorists are either hunted out or hiding behind the stone pelters.
The financial flow to garner support for terrorism has dried up due to the massive crackdown on hawala transactions. This frustrating situation resulted into attacking the septic target, the pilgrims from Gujarat, the State from where Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi hails and which is going to poll later this year.
If you are stuck on ‘Kashmir agenda’, then vitiate the communal atmosphere in rest of Bharat, has also been the strategy of Pakistan sponsored outfits. Here they tried both, making their presence felt in the Valley and creating communal stir, simultaneously.
There could not have been a better timing of showing this frustration. On the one hand, there is a stand-off with China on Bhutan border and Prime Minister Modi has just finished first ever trip by any Bharatiya Prime Minister to Israel, another common enemy of Islamic radicals.
Despite intelligence input, we could not prevent the attack is certainly a serious concern. How and why the bus carrying pilgrims moved without proper registration and security cover is still an unanswered question. The penetration of terror groups in locals has again brought to the fore by this attack.
The radicalisation of Valley and growing anti-Hindu agenda is the reality of this proxy war which cannot be denied. The good part is that all political parties have come out in unison to condemn the attack. Neither the Yatra nor the communal harmony could be disturbed is another significant sign from the common people.
Now the Government and concerned agencies should respond to this challenge beyond rhetoric. There seems to be unfolding grand strategy to address the internal and external dimensions of this old menace in ‘Kashmir’, it should be continued and expedited now. Irrespective of their crocodile tears, separatist group should be dealt with firmly.
Mere flushing out of dreaded killers like Abu Ismail is not enough but to dismantling terror infrastructure within and across the border and targeting their bosses in Pakistan is a must. Choking the weapon and financial supply in the Valley is an important component of this policy and we must try to attain this. The patience of common masses is losing due to unabated terror activities in the Valley.
The will and vigour of NDA Government is the last hope for them. This inhuman act has created a window of decisive action and we must respond beyond moral condemnations and sloganeering.
@PrafullaKetkar
