People's Democracy

THE gruesome massacre in Jammu perpetrated by one of the terrorist outfits operating in Jammu & Kashmir is yet another deliberate provocation to worsen the situation in the state and close all options for advancing the political process to restore peace and normalcy. As recent experience shows, it is not difficult for a determined band of 2 or 3 armed persons to wreak havoc and massacre innocent people if they are determined to die themselves. Suspicion naturally falls upon groups such as the Laskhar-e-Taiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed which have their bases in Pakistan. The ban on such organisations in Pakistan has led to their functioning under different names.

The cold-blooded murder of innocent civilians, women and children most of them family members of soldiers serving in the army has led to outrage and revulsion in the country. The attack was timed during the visit of the US assistant secretary of state, Christina Rocca to Delhi, a tactic adopted by the extremists to draw international attention to their existence and cause. Such a massacre naturally leads to calls for instant action and retaliation. But in the long drawn-out war of attrition against this type of terror, it is important to weigh all the factors before embarking on any course of action.

After the December 13 terrorist attack on parliament, the Vajpayee government conducted a full-scale mobilisation of troops along the entire border including the line of control. Pakistan also mobilised its troops. For four months now both the armies have been facing each other with the risk of a military confrontation acute in the earlier period. In such a situation the CPI(M) had called for demobilising the troops and for de-escalating tensions, a stand endorsed by the 17th congress of the party in its political resolution.

As in the case of the post-December 13 situation, it is important to recognise that the widespread condemnation internationally against this latest terrorist outrage should help India to mount further pressure on the Pakistani regime and General Musharraf to take firm action against the fundamentalist and terrorist outfits operating from Pakistan - a commitment he made in his January 12 speech. The United States which has enlisted Pakistan in its "war against terrorism" has a special responsibility in this regard. Any military operation across the border, will deflect from this purpose. Further, as Lt General V R Raghavan, the distinguished security expert has warned, any limited military strike on Pakistan and the POK will lead to counter strikes. The escalation of the conflict into a full-fledged war with the use of nuclear weapons is an ever-present danger.

As for the Vajpayee government, its full-scale mobilisation of troops along the border and keeping them there at great expense has proved to be singularly unproductive. The armed forces which had certain internal security duties in Jammu & Kashmir were all diverted to the border. The continuing extremist depredations in the Doda-Poonch areas and the increasing concentration of the extremists in the Jammu region require the special attention of the armed forces to tackle this threat. Continuing the posture of maintaining military pressure on Pakistan is not going to yield further results, unless effective steps are taken within Jammu & Kashmir to tackle the threat by the extremist outfits. With the snow melting, the infiltration into the state will increase and the army has to act in concert with the other security forces to deal with the situation.

While these measures are essential, there is no escape from the fact that the BJP-led government is now bereft of any political ideas on how to tackle the basic problem in Kashmir. With the assembly elections approaching in a few months the Vajpayee government is unable to convince any of the groups outside the existing framework to participate in the elections. The Farooq Abdullah government stands totally discredited amongst the people both for its rank opportunism in joining hands with the BJP and for its gross misrule. Having denied autonomy as a meaningful step, there are no political proposals which the Vajpayee government can put forward with any credibility.

Only a three-pronged approach --- stepping up diplomatic and political pressure on the Pakistani government to take effective steps against the extremists; effective steps to strengthen the political process in Jammu & Kashmir and offering autonomy as the basis for negotiations; and heightening vigilance and security measures to check hardcore extremists -- can help to meet the situation.

Given the jingoistic proclivities of the Vajpayee government and its failure to address seriously the political solution to the Kashmir issue, the government's policy in Jammu & Kashmir is an utter failure and threatens to further worsen the situation.