Political vacuum in J&K

Ashok Bhan

Ex-DGP and Former member, National Security Advisory Board

The constitutional changes of August 2019 and reorganisation of the erstwhile state of J&K distended the role of the police and security forces. Besides intensifying the counter-insurgency operations, there were new challenges of ensuring strict enforcement of lockdown restrictions and preventing protests. To be fair to the J&K Police and the security forces, they have done a commendable job. The law and order situation, despite being fragile, was not allowed to go out of hand. There were notable successes in counter-terrorist operations, with over a hundred terrorists, including top commanders of Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, neutralised this year.

The heavy footprint of uniformed forces, in the absence of civilian overreach, has sharpened the mistrust created by the defanging of Article 370. Frequent contacts, while restraining people to observe lockdown and during cordon and search operations, have increased hostility towards the government. Routine summons to police stations, arrests, releases and re-arrests of youth have added to alienation. Unfettered use of the security forces threatens to erode the civil face of the local police and has become counterproductive.

There is seething anger, increased resilience and suppressed defiance among the youth. The prolonged lockdown, curbs, arrests and detentions, including those of mainstream leaders, has increased disaffection. Instead of remedial political and administrative measures to reach out to the people, the government has gone about formalising constitutional changes by bringing in the domicile law and setting up of a delimitation commission. The adjournments of petitions challenging the validity of the constitutional changes as well as hesitation in holding the executive accountable in habeas corpus petitions, restrictions on media and the Internet, are being perceived as denial of legitimate legal remedies. This loss of hope increases vulnerability to overtures by radical and anti-national elements.

Pakistan never misses an opportunity to exploit discontent in J&K. The terrorist camps and launch pads in PoK are reported to be full. The interception and killing of 13 infiltrating terrorists in Mendhar and Nowshera sectors of Jammu on May 31 are clear indicators of Pakistan’s intent. The recent killing of Ajay Pandita, a sarpanch from the minority community, raises doubts on the claims of improvement in the security situation. In coming weeks and months, therefore, the hands of the security forces will be full in maintaining law and order, checking infiltration and carrying out operations in the hinterland.

In the ensuing political vacuum, the state administration is expected to address day-to-day grievances as well as initiate confidence-building measures, including developmental activities. True, the fallout of Covid-19 has shifted the focus of the administration. They can’t be faulted on that, but the developing security situation can’t be remotely handled from the safe environs of Jammu. The Valley accounts for three quarters of Covid cases and most of the deaths reported in the UT. The ‘theatre of activity’, reeling under a political vacuum, has been left to the care of uniformed forces. Most of the government functionaries operate from Jammu after a token reopening of the winter capital at Srinagar. The deployment of employees, even when the Secretariat opens on July 6, will continue on ‘as-is-where-is’ basis. Some influential quarters have succeeded in using the pandemic as a cover to truncate the operation of ‘darbar’ from Srinagar during this summer.

In a political void, mosques will naturally fill the vacuum. This trust deficit is well illustrated by a mohalla committee collecting donations of

Rs 3 crore in a week, instead of seeking government relief, to rehabilitate 19 families whose houses were damaged in a recent anti-terrorist operation in Nawakadal area of Srinagar. There are many more instances of lack of faith in the administration.

Trade and industry in the entire UT has immensely suffered since August 2019. Covid has also brought to a grinding halt the tourism and pilgrimage-related economy. Partial restrictions on the Internet have seriously impaired trade and the functioning of health infrastructure and educational institutions. In a largely peaceful Jammu province, such restrictions are incomprehensible. It is time to work towards fulfilling the promise of citizen-centric governance and all-round development made at the time of reorganisation. The administration will need to proactively allay the growing perception of neglect of the Valley. The Lt Governor and his team must be given a free hand in day-to-day decision-making based on situation on the ground. He must also remain the single-point contact with the Centre to avoid confusing signals.

There is a surge in local recruitment to terrorist ranks in south Kashmir. An overwhelming majority of terrorists killed in the hinterland are local youth, some of them having joined terrorist ranks in the past few weeks or months. They are ‘gravely hurt’ at the loss of the special status. Such misgivings need to be discounted and reversed. Leaving this for the uniformed forces to handle alone, through restrictions, arrests and detentions, is fraught with dangerous consequences.

There is a menacing disquiet in the air. It is time to redeem the situation through political and administrative outreach. In a political vacuum and in the absence of a vibrant civil back-up, the forces face a daunting challenge. They can only bring terrorist violence down to manageable levels and make the situation conducive for political outreach. Peace will remain elusive if these measures are not taken.

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