Stating the obvious, since partition in 1947, there has been woeful strategic bankruptcy in resolving the J&K issue. Political gerrymandering, sensationalised by visual media, contra national security interests, has been on grand display with utter disregard to nation’s morale and pride.
The responsibility and accountability for the “self-goals” is squarely credited to Pt. Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi. Nehru for stopping the armed forces offensive after they had regained the initiative and momentum against Pakistan raiders to drive them out of what is today known as Pakistan Occupied Territory. Also, for taking the issue to the United Nations.
Next, Lal Bahadur Shastri, in 1965, too must share some part of the blame for handing back the captured territory that included the key pass—Hajji Pir Pass—and straightening the Uri Bulge without forcing a comprehensive negotiated settlement of J&K issue.
Finally, Indira Gandhi for releasing over 90,000 Pakistan prisoners of war without forcing Zulfiqar Bhutto to agree to the ‘final’ settlement of Kashmir issue.
Seizing and exploiting opportunities is a hallmark of statesmanship and strong leadership. By such criteria, the three Congress Party stalwarts and the Congress Party have been a total disaster for the nation.
At the political level, there had never been a credible policy or higher directions for the security forces. Such a glaring void mercilessly exposes the vicious politics played by all leaders and political parties.De facto, the latest outbreak of political war in the Parliament and outside utterly exposes lack of national unity on a matter of key national security interest.
“Peace Talks” is an illusion or a mirage considering former President Zia’s “proxy war” to bleed India to slow death—“Operation Topac”. All “peace overtures, Track II, NSA, flag meetings and DGMO level talks” have failed to produce enduring and sustainable peace.
Failure to learn from the lessons of the past 70 years clearly exposes political and intellectual bankruptcy. How can otherwise anyone explain the political leaders’ demand to conduct peace talks with Pakistan and the separatist leaders? In retrospect, they are fooling themselves only.
In such a background context and content, only “Idiots” would expect Pakistan Armed Forces to retract from their strategic adversarial posture based on “1000-years Jihad through Proxy War to Bleed India’.
Rajanath Singh, Home Minister, invocation of “bullet for bullet” is no policy. Someone should advise him that at best, it is only a reactive tactical action and not proactive strategy to his para-military Forces.
Similarly, the latest refrain and threat of launching “surgical strikes” is also a reactive military strategy. With the Pakistan Army live and alert to the possibility of “Commando type surgical strikes” across the Line of Control, it may not be wise decision to undertake such a high-risk venture. The policy or higher directions by Modi and the BJP must focus on political ways and means to counter the present menace. Why dither on taking courageous political decisions? No talks with a gun of terrorism and daily cross-border exchanges pointing to your back. Also no talks until stone pelting by Pak- sponsored and inspired mobs stops. Let all political leaders unite on the above key issue.There is a need for leadership in Jammu and Kashmir who has a clear vision to counter the terrorist-cum-separatistturmoil. The right person as a Governor can be useful in this regard.
Simultaneously, separate and isolate theseparatist leaders from their sympathizers in thevalley and Pakistan sponsors and confine them to a remote island in the Andaman Island territorywithout communication with outside world.
Next, send all Pakistani origin terrorists kept in jails in the valley to a high-security detention centre in remote uninhabited Andaman Islands and keep them like what the USA does to the terrorists in Guantanamo detention cell in chains. Even there are other covert “hard options” available to dispose of them.
“Transit Facilities and Trade” between J&K and Pakistan-Occupied-Territory should stop. Such an appeasement posture is only facilitating the free flow of terrorists and separatists besides flow of finances and counter-terrorism/separatist war material. At the political level, give a free hand to security forces to employ all combat systems available to them in a “pro-active” mode. For counter-terrorism strategy, there is need to empower the commanders and troops at thegrassroots level to strike decisively across the LoC to deter misadventures, infiltrations and kill terrorists without fear and remorse.
Why the “headless chicken” cacophony in the visual media over the latest Pakistan missile employment in Rajauri sector that killed a young Captain and three soldiers? Who stopped or denied the local commanders from employing anti-tank missiles to blow up Pakistani posts? Also, who stopped them from launching counter mortar and medium artillerybombardment or suppressive fires against hostile mortars and guns? Why not use artillery guns in direct firing mode against Pakistani posts in mountains and tanks in the semi plain areas in Samba-Jammu-Akhnoor sectors?Most important is the employment of highly skilled snipers suitably deployed in ‘nests’ targeting Pakistan personnel on the other side of LoC. Why are the local commanders hesitant and restrained to use firepower available to them? Furthermore, Pakistan Armed Forces are also under siege from within. They cannot forever go on waging war on all fronts that include Afghanistan-Baluchistan-FATA areas-Karachi and other towns.
The Union home ministry must also allow the local police-CPMFs-army units operating in the towns and Srinagar to strike back not only with rubber bullets but also with real bullets against stone- pelters.Indian Security Forces—armed forces and CMPFs—have far greater “punishment withstanding” capability than the Pakistan war machine. Let none of the political cadres and the peaceniks has any reservations on such a score. The current crisis situation provides an opportunity to Modi and the BJP to seize the initiative and force the momentum. -Brig (Retd) GB Reddy
(The writer is senior columnist and strategic expert )
