Just as Maoists continue to operate in some forested areas of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, etc., despite their small numbers, similarly terrorist groups have found ‘safe havens’ in parts of J&K. Occasionally, these groups attack and inflict casualties on security forces, basically to make their existence known. This helps in the propaganda war that forwards their ideological claims. There is no doubt that there are some among them in the frontlines who believe in the ‘cause’, but otherwise they continue to be pawns in the hands of larger, more distant forces.
The security forces have long realised that conventional methods are not enough to neutralise such terrorists. Even the most comprehensive combing operations are not effective enough to nab small, lightly armed groups that slip through the cracks. They receive support and shelter from sympathisers or those they have intimidated into doing so. Even the best run security apparatus cannot prevent the occasional successful attack.
Successful eradication of such groups is only possible through a multi-dimensional approach. Local communities have to be better engaged and involved, receiving immediate and palpable benefits from an ‘improved’ environment. The ideological battle also needs to be fought to convince impressionable youth not to indulge in such criminal activity.
But, above all, it is the terror economy that holds up such activity that needs to be busted. It is not unusual to learn that some of the instigators and ideological backers of such movements make huge personal fortunes. There are global networks that finance such movements as part of the strategic positioning of powerful nations. The patronage being provided to the Khalistani delusion by nations that claim to abhor terrorism is a case in point. One can only imagine to what lengths nations that adhere to extremist ideologies will be going. So it is that even such small groups have to be fought at the global level through ‘saam, daam, dand, bhed’.
There can be no let-up in this effort. Pakistan is the main backer of the terrorism in J&K. It has been considerably weakened by the multiple ways the Modi led government has enforced a debilitating blockade. This effort is being sought to be countered by appeals for ‘normalisation’ of relations by certain interest groups and politicians. This has to be resisted, otherwise all the good work will amount to nothing. The negative forces that have been directed at India should be made to bounce back on the Pakistani establishment, so that interference in India’s affairs can be brought to an end. It will take time, but that’s the way to go.
