Kashmir, Terrorism, and India's Long-Term Security Strategy

Context:

• Recent terrorist attacks on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, highlight the persistent threat from Pakistan’s deep state.
• The attack is part of Pakistan's attempts to derail democratic normalcy and development in the region.

Lessons for India:

• Historical parallels:
  • America’s strategic myopia: America evacuated its personnel from the roof of its Saigon embassy via helicopter (on 30 April, 1975) and lost a proxy war in Vietnam.
  • End of soft separatism in J&K: Same year, Sheikh Abdullah returned to democratic politics in J&K (as the elected CM of J&K), ending 22 years of soft separatism.
• Modern misjudgments - Trump and Munir:
  • Trump’s proposal to “empty Gaza” (to make it a Mediterranean Florida) ignores historical lessons.
  • Pakistan Army Chief Asif Munir echoed outdated ideas - Jinnah's two-nation theory and Z.A. Bhutto’s "jugular vein" rhetoric on Kashmir. Both ignore India’s institutional strength, strategic autonomy, and economic rise.

Three Pillars of India’s Long-Term Kashmir Strategy:

• Specialisation - Targeted security operations:
  • Intelligence-driven operations led to the formation of Rashtriya Rifles (1990) and Special Operations Groups (1993).
  • Replacement of BSF with CRPF (1995) and CBI with NIA for counter-terror financing shows institutional adaptability.
• Moderation - Minimum use of force:
  • India followed a path opposite to the US's "search and destroy" in Vietnam.
  • Strategy rooted in public order with minimal resistance, echoing Subrata Mitra's “Governance by Stealth”.
  • Symbols of legitimacy: Surrender of terrorists at Hazratbal (1993), state election voting lines (2024).
• Democracy - Civil participation in conflict zones:
  • Frequent elections, civil service involvement, and respecting political diversity, even those who espoused soft separatism.
  • Reflects a deeper commitment to democratic processes versus Pakistan’s unstable governance (no PM completing a full term since 1947).

Killings Signal Pakistan’s Desperation:

• India’s evolving strategy - abrogation of Article 370, cross-border strikes, strategic autonomy, and infrastructure development (e.g., railways) - is yielding results.
• Terrorist attacks are a reaction to India’s success in integrating J&K, not a sign of weakness.

Message from Kashmir:

• Kashmiris: After the murders at Baisaran (Pahalgam, J&K), Kashmiris are on streets blaming Pakistan for the attack.
• Security forces of India:
  • 1,608 J&K police, 511 CRPF, and hundreds of army personnel’s supreme sacrifice in protecting J&K depicts that “The flag does not flutter in the wind, but with the last breath of martyrs.”
  • So, “Veer Bhogya Vasundhara” (The brave shall inherit the earth) is the symbolic message from the forces.

Conclusion - Strategic Resolve over Reaction:

• India's response must be seen not as war-mongering but as measured, courageous defence of peace.
• The world must draw lessons from India’s experience: institutional resilience, democratic depth, and calibrated security actions.

Q1. Discuss the role of the Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group in India’s counter-insurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir.

Ans. The Rashtriya Rifles (1990) and Special Operations Group (1993) were established to conduct specialized, intelligence-driven counter-terrorism operations in Kashmir, replacing blunt military tactics with precision and coordination.

Q2. How does India’s approach to handling insurgency in J&K differ from the United States' strategy in Vietnam?

Ans. Unlike the US's aggressive "search and destroy" model in Vietnam, India adopted a strategy of calibrated force, democratic integration, and public order through minimum coercion.

Q3. Examine the significance of democracy as a strategic pillar in India’s Kashmir policy.

Ans. Democracy ensures legitimacy in conflict zones through regular elections, civil service involvement, and inclusion of local political voices, which undermines separatist narratives.

Q4. Why is the abrogation of Article 370 seen as a turning point in India’s internal security policy?

Ans. The abrogation of Article 370 symbolizes the assertion of constitutional unity, enabling tighter central oversight over terrorism and accelerating development integration in Jammu & Kashmir.

Q5. What lessons does India’s Kashmir strategy offer the world in handling proxy wars?

Ans. India's model highlights the importance of targeted operations, restrained force, and democratic legitimacy in countering externally sponsored insurgencies effectively. 

Source:IE