Infiltration in Keran
sector
October 6, 2013
Reports
about infiltration by a sizeable group of Pakistani terrorist outfit supported
by her regulars in Keran sector are coming in. For quite some time,
intelligence agencies have been speaking about jihadi concentration along LoC
on PoK side. Along with that, the number of infiltration bids and the covering
fire provided by Pakistani troops in various sectors have shown an increase in
comparison to the previous year.
This
attempt of infiltration made at a time when the two prime ministers expressed
their resolve to fight terrorism during their NY meet is disappointing. It
raises many questions about the ability of Pakistani Prime Minister to rein in
the terrorist elements within the country and the support they are receiving
from the army. We cannot call it a positive step towards building peace between
the two countries. Our doubt that Pakistani Prime Minister’s writ does not run
in that country becomes eloquent when we find that after he assumed the reins
of the Government, terrorist activities and infiltration bids at the LoC have
substantially increased. Terrorist attacks in Kathua, Srinagar and now in Keran
sector are substantiating our point. Another problem closely associated with
the situation on the LoC is that jihadis have been given the status of
“frontline security bastion” of Pakistan army. It means that Pakistan
army and ISI have reached a vast segment of Pakistani civilian society with
hate-India blitzkrieg to register support for the clear motive of creating
serious impediments in the path of Nawaz Sharif if he chooses to cozy up to the
Indians.
Apart from
this, the nation would want to know how this massive infiltration could take
place when we are assured that our security forces are maintaining strict vigil
on the border. We know that it is a long and porous border and foolproof
prevention of infiltration is not possible. Trusting the army top brass that
the jihadis have not been allowed to occupy the village of Shala Bhatu, the
fact remains that infiltration has taken place and at a time when the old
regiment replaced by new one. Why should have the replacement taken place in a
manner that allowed the infiltrators to successfully sneak in and occupy the
vacated bunkers or deserted huts. Obviously there has been a snag somewhere in
overall strategy of securing this sector and the enemy has exploited it. It is
unacceptable that our troops on forward posts remained uninformed about the
infiltration reported to have taken place three weeks ago.
For quite
some time, intelligence sources have been speaking of strong concentration of
jihadis close to the LoC on Pakistani side all along vulnerable points in
Poonch-Mendhar-Rajouri and Tithwal-Keran sectors. It has also been reported
that these jihadis are equipped with much more sophisticated weaponry and
communication apparatus. The LeT handlers in Pakistan have made no secret of
the terrorist organization upgrading their musclemen in all respects, training,
tactics, arms, map reading, surveillance and suicide tactics. Their local
agents have been carrying on surveillance of our army and police camps, their
location, strength, connectivity and state of preparedness. These challenges
have to be met and defeated.
We owe much to our
army and paramilitary forces who have been meeting this challenge with exceptional
bravery and determination. It is because of their supreme sacrifices and
services that a semblance of normalcy has been restored in the State. The lapse
in Karen is being rectified and the army top brass has assured the nation that
the challenge will be met.
In the
context of this situation, we find that Pakistan has renewed its efforts to
destabilize the troubled State once again. As regards relations between
Pakistani civilian Government and the army, we need not read much between the
lines. We have to accept that the enemy is unrelenting and, therefore, we have
to be prepared to give it befitting reply. This vindicates army’s stand that it
cannot allow complacency overtake its preparedness. The situation is not that
normal as we might imagine. In these circumstances withdrawal of armed forces
from any part of the State or withdrawal of powers given to it to combat the
terrorist menace will be a risky decision fraught with most serious
consequences.
One more
point that we would like to touch upon is the regional strategy and its impact
on Kashmir. We mean the prospect of US-led NATO forces preparing to withdraw
from Afghanistan in 2014. A large number of battle hardened jihadis from
Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province are closely linked to ISI either directly or
through conduits like Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, Haqqani and others. They would lend
their tactical and logistical support to Kashmir jihad that has already made
some space for itself in the strategic map of the region likely to emerge after
the US forces leave. LeT, a Kashmir centered jihadi organization based in
Pakistan heartland, is crucially aligned to all the three primary actors on the
stage, namely the TTP, Al Qaeda and ISI/Pak Army with the ultimate agenda of
establishing the Islamic Caliphate from the Dardanelles to the Straits of
Malacca in which Kashmir holds central position for their scheme of things.
We believe
that this aspect of Kashmir insurgency is not hidden from the eyes of policy
planners in New Delhi and Srinagar. As such, our defence planning in Kashmir
has to be re-oriented and superscripted against the magnitude of threat posed
by the ground situation. It is very unlikely that Mian Nawaz Sharif will be
allowed time and space he needs to undermine or neutralize the grandiose plan of
the jihadis. Unless he is able to sensitize broad masses of his people to the
dangerous abyss to which the jihadis are pushing his country, and unless he
succeeds in rebuilding the peaceful image of his country in the eyes of world
community, it may not be possible to expect rectification of grave aberrations
viciously dogging Pakistan.
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