When force of peace overtakes larger objectives

Majid Jahangir in Srinagar

Peace becomes a force-multiplier when aspirants for it settle down to some sort of a common objective. In Kashmir there are several actors ill-at-ease about the script they hold to make it happen — with or without confrontationist digressions. And the people are made to believe in the resuscitation process for a comparative lull in which militants rework their violent agenda and the armed forces and the police are led to respond in equal measure. As for the government, it writes, deletes and rewrites the peace incentives at the cost of broader objectives. 

So, when Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh was in town on his four-day trip last week, he only articulated what has been grossly misspelled across Jammu and Kashmir for years: compassion, communication, co-existence, confidence-building and consistency. Incentivisation was almost instantly evident when security forces managed two significant surrenders — both during Rajnath’s visit. 

And yet another attempt is being made to dissuade the “first-time” stone throwers. They are to be sent to rehabilitation centres, not jails. State police chief Shesh Paul Vaid said that the police are working on a plan. “Pulwama jail (in south Kashmir) is being redone as a correctional home. First-timers will be provided counseling, skill development training and education,” Vaid said. Police sources say the exact number of such first-timers is not known, nor is the manner in which the rehab plan is being drawn up. 

The publicized surrenders last week indicate a switch in policy to neutralize active militants, mainly local. Kashmir's Inspector General of Police Muneer Khan offers an account of how Lashkar-e-Toiba's 20-year-old Adil Dar recently surrendered during an encounter in south Kashmir's Shopian. “He was firing at the forces. He lobbed a grenade. Somehow he lost balance and could not fire anymore. He could have been killed, there was no other way out, but we preferred to give him a chance. We wanted him to join his parents again. That's why we opted to catch him alive. The message to the militants was clear: if they come to us, we will receive them with open arms.” 

Adil's two local associates were killed in a 15-hour gunfight that erupted hours after the Union home minister landed in Srinagar. Singh emphasized “security outreach” at a top-level review meeting in Srinagar. 

Then came another surrender — in less than 36 hours — this time of a Hizbul Mujahideen “over-ground worker” during a gunfight in Kulgam. The police, Army and the CRPF quickly issued a joint appeal to militants to lay down their arms. “If anyone wants to surrender, a safe passage and rehabilitation is assured,” said Zulfiqar Hassan, Inspector General (operations) Central Reserve Police Force.

The appeal came at a time when there has been a spurt in local recruitment of youth since the killing of militant Burhan Wani in July last year. This year, police sources, say around 80 youth have joined the militant ranks in Kashmir. This is despite a massive offensive launched against the militants, especially top commanders. This year 147 militants, including a dozen militant commanders, have been killed in gunfights. The police say they have been able to wean away over 60 youth from militancy this year. One of newest recruits in the militant ranks is Eisa Fazili, a Srinagar resident, who was pursuing engineering at a university in Rajouri. Eisa, police said, is believed to have joined Zakir Musa-led radical militant group, and that he announced his joining the ranks through social media.

Days later Eisa's father Naeem Fazili, who is a higher secondary school principal, asked his son to return. His appeal came via Facebook, which he later deleted. “….. Please don't play with fire. Return as early as possible. Your mother is wandering with your belongings. Remember, one can never succeed in the absence of prayers of his parents,” Fazili wrote.

While families of the many new recruits want their sons to return, the latter in most cases are not ready to listen. The families are desperately trying to find their militant sons before they are caught in an encounter with security forces.