Daily News Analysis :-
GS3: Terrorism
Context: Last days of 2023 in Jammu and Kashmir witnessed terrorist strikes at Rajouri-Poonch districts. Four soldiers were killed and allegedly three civilians were mistakenly killed by soldiers in the ambush.
This article critically analyzes about the approachyeast central government has taken to eliminate terrorism.
- Debatable obsession towards kill numbers: Ministry of Home Affairs exhorted security to break terror infrastructure in the event of reduced terror killings in 2023 than previous year.
- This is problematic because terror indices or events in numbers are falling year on year, hence, focusing on kill numbers will pressurize the forces to come up with tangible outcomes.
- Unnecessity in kill numbers: Focusing only on kill numbers is futile given the history of certain regions where the terror incidents are not uniform throughout.
- System’s reluctance to adapt to the changing situations as tangible outcomes or kill numbers are essential toi claim the glory of anti-terrorist operations.
What should be done?
- Focusing on eliminating terrorism rather than terrorists: Root cause of terrorism should be dealt with.
- Ideology, syndicates and dissatisfaction are the symptoms of terrorism, based on which individuals are recruited.
- Adopting people-centric approach: To win the hearts and minds of people of Jammu Kashmir. As an alternative to iron-fist approach, where soldiers becomes part of their day-to-day lives and the growth story of the people of Jammu Kashmir.
- Security operations should be seen as means and not ends: Security operations should be conducted to stabilize the situation and handover it for further political processes.
- On this front security forces are successful but there is reluctance for political processes.
- JnK conundrum can be resolved through political representation of the people: Who can raise their concerns, debate the issues and come to the solution in a peaceful manner.
