‘It has been established beyond doubt that terror can thrive only on the basis of the support of the local population, irrespective of the techniques and modus operandi adopted by the terrorists.’ Photo Credit: ANI
The Rajouri-Poonch region of Jammu and Kashmir has been in the news recently for all the wrong reasons. The border districts here have seen a relative increase in terrorist incidents in the last few years. Since October 2021, terrorists have killed at least 20 soldiers in the area between Bhatta Durian-Chamerer forests in Poonch and Pargal-Dangari in Rajouri; In the latest incident, five soldiers of the Special Forces were killed in an explosion during a search operation on 5 May.
After being a hotbed of militancy in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the area has been relatively calm since the mid-2000s. The traditional routes of infiltration were through the hilly and forested areas of Rajouri-Poonch, mainly along the Line of Control (LoC). Terrorists infiltrating from Poonch, Mendar and Rajouri sub-sectors of the LoC used to pass through these areas on their way to Pir Panjal ranges to enter the valley. An extensive network of overground workers and an associated support base developed in this area. In addition, the forested areas of Surankote (in Poonch district) on the higher peaks were used as transit camps and training grounds for terrorists.
Gujjar-Bakkarwal as a pillar of support
This was a reference to Operation Sarp Vinash (of 2022), also known as Operation Hill Kaka, launched by counter insurgency force ‘Romeo’. The operation resulted in the elimination of an estimated 65-70 terrorists. While deployed in the region since the early 1999s, hundreds of security personnel have made great sacrifices for the cause of peace. The forces have also received strong support from the local population. The demographics of the region are Muslim dominated, with a majority Gujjar-Bakkarwal community.
The Gujjar-Bakarwals’ support to the Indian Army led to the establishment of the first Muslim Village Defense Committee in the region in December 2002, in response to atrocities on the local population by Harkat-ul-Mujahideen cadres. The Gujjar-Bakarwals’ support to the Indian state in counter-insurgency operations came when in 2002, Tahir Hussain returned to Surankote from employment in Saudi Arabia to avenge the death of his brother who was killed by Lashkar-e-Taiba. Several other men from the Surankote tehsil accompanied Tahir Hussain to fight the rebels who had fortified themselves in the forested areas of Surankote. Since 2004-05, peace has largely prevailed as the people have decided to stand up against the terrorists; Gurjar-Bakarwals have played a major role in this.
revival of militancy
Given the sensitivity of Rajouri-Poonch, the recent revival of militancy, though not on the earlier scale, is a matter of concern. It is quite certain that the terrorist cadre and their leadership in Pakistan will seek to diversify in their desire to become a force far beyond the Kashmir Valley. The consistent change in recent terror attacks in the region has been that terrorists are at large, barring one ‘killing’ during an operation launched by security forces on 1 June.
Terrorist cadres who have been successful in making short-term gains have many merits. According to government sources, analysts and the media, some of the factors favoring the terrorists are: use of smart technology by terrorists to communicate and move around, operating in small groups and from urban areas, a weak anti-terror grid along the Line of Actual Control in the Jammu region Due to the withdrawal of troops for deployment along the (LAC), re-activation of sleeper cells and over ground workers, deepening of the drug menace and its link with terrorism.
Also, some sections say that infiltration is no longer happening across the LoC in the traditional way, but through the Nepal and Bangladesh borders. In short, the reasons behind the revival of militancy in the region are varied and by re-establishing the support of the Gujjar-Bakarwals, all challenges can be overcome. In the short and medium term, outsmarting terrorists in their use of technology or defeating them in their use of rhetoric on social media has always proved to be a difficult task for state agencies.
relevant question
The most important question that very few people are asking is: ‘What has dried up the local support that could have stacked all odds against the state?’ ‘Has the Gujjar-Bakkarwal community been isolated?’ It has been established beyond doubt that terror can thrive only on the basis of the support of the local population, irrespective of the techniques and modus operandi adopted by the terrorists.
Looking at the socio-political scenario of the region, there could be several reasons behind the majority population of Rajouri-Poonch moving away from the state. Apart from issues like unemployment, what matters is the deficiencies in the concrete implementation of the Forest Rights Act 2006 in Jammu and Kashmir, which have directly affected the Gujjar-Bakarwals, and the rift among the Gujjars is getting deeper and deeper. Bakkarwal and Pahari on the reservation issue.
Proxy warfare by Pakistan constitutes a gray zone or a subset of hybrid warfare and requires a ‘whole of government’ approach. Solutions to the challenges related to extremism are not to be found in isolated places and pervade many levels of society, including governance and most importantly, the realm of justice. The stakes are high and peace in the Rajouri-Poonch region depends on the sweat and blood of soldiers and Gujjar-Bakarwals. The time has come for the state to see the facts clearly.
Colonel Shashank Ranjan is a retired Infantry Officer, currently Assistant Professor at OP Jindal Global University. He has served extensively in the Rajouri-Poonch sector while posted to counter insurgency