Looking beyond Pahalgam to fight Pakistan-sponsored terror

The spring season in Kashmir this year was marred by the heinous terror attack perpetrated by heavily armed militants in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam, claiming 26 innocent lives.

The Indian political leadership has set a “new normal” in terms of response to any act of terrorism traceable to Pakistan. However, there are some stark realities which have to be squarely addressed. To fully eliminate the scourge of terrorism, it is imperative to counter any form of local support to militants. To ensure a return to normalcy in Kashmir, in terms of local commerce and tourist footfall, the bellwether would be the safe conduct of the impending Amarnath pilgrimage. This can well be achieved by intensive deployment of a professional and counter-insurgency hardened force like the Rashtriya Rifles (RR), in larger numbers.

One harsh fact has to be contended with. Baisaran is fairly deep inside India. Those who carried out the massacre on April 22 were not on some lightning raid. Their actions show familiarity with the area.

That they could simply disappear and remain untraced points to the primacy of putting our own house in order. They may very well have gone back across the LoC or may be at large in the vastness of the Kashmir valley and its forests. In both cases, they would not be surviving only on fresh air and water from mountain rivulets.

There can be no denying the fact that there is local support for such militancy. The network of overground workers in concert with the cadres of Jamaat-e-Islami, is clearly active.

It may make for good optics to showcase normalcy in Kashmir but it needs to be remembered that such inimical and anti-India elements remain entrenched in the populace. Intelligence agencies, security forces and the local police need to act in a concerted, concrete and visible manner to address this problem. Normalcy cannot be endlessly held hostage by these malevolent elements.

To remain on top of the game, the induction of state-of-the-art systems, whether indigenous or imported, has to be an ongoing process. The MoD has stated that it would focus on simplifying acquisition procedures to facilitate swifter development of capability. However, without a robust fiscal outlay, any progress may fall well short of targets.

Any armed force in the world needs a gestation period to absorb new technologies and systems for warfare and such abilities cannot just manifest in the face of impending war by letting cash flow. The bottom line for capability development is both time and money.

The allocation for defence for 2025-26 is estimated at 1.91 per cent of the projected GDP, while a figure of 3 per cent has often been cited as an optimum allocation for meeting national security needs. However, it may be more prudent and pragmatic to view the required defence Bill in terms of a gross figure, which covers the annual expenditure, both revenue and capital, for all the three Services.

It is for the government to husband national resources in a manner that ensures defence of the nation. This will require not a mere balancing of the books but a resolve at the highest levels of government.

A Year of Reform is welcome. What is truly needed is not an year but an Era of Reform and Resolve, in tune with the “new normal”.

Lt Gen Pradeep Bali (retd) is a military commentator.