Sheikh Sameer
Strategies to Defeat Pakistan At Its Game
A month ago, a tragedy struck our village with the passing of a soldier while on duty. The ill-fated BSF jawan was stationed in Calcutta and was on election duty that day when he accidentally slipped in a wet washroom, resulting in a spinal cord injury. Despite being hospitalized for a week, luck did not favor this brave jawan, and he ultimately lost his battle for life during treatment. It was heart-wrenching to witness and attend the funeral of this courageous soul. His three little children, innocent and unaware of the harsh reality, asked numerous questions about the dreams their father had for them. Everyone present was in tears, consoling his parents, wife, and kids.
Two days ago, another attack on an Indian army convoy left me deeply anguished. In this deadly attack, five brave soldiers lost their lives. As news of their martyrdom spread, each notification on my phone reminded me of the funeral of my neighbor jawan. I fell into deep contemplation about the five families, especially those who had pinned high hopes on their return. Their family members, particularly their children, may have spoken to them on the phone recently before the attack. I wondered about the scenes when the sudden news of death circulated in their respective areas. In my thoughts, I compared the scenes of receiving the mortal remains of these brave soldiers with that of my neighbor jawan. The scenes wouldn’t have been different because these brave soldiers were born to mothers who loved them just as my neighbor’s mother loved her son. Yes, there must be one difference in the funerals of brave soldiers killed in a terrorist attack: the justifiable hatred against terrorism.
In less than three years, about 43 soldiers have been killed in the Jammu region and 51 in the entire UT due to terror attacks. Each attack targeted moving vehicles when the soldiers were en route to their destinations. It is the most cowardly act of terrorists because if they consider themselves brave, they should confront our soldiers directly, not hide in the shadows, firing on the backs of our soldiers and fleeing the spot. These attacks have surfaced, especially after significant events in the country. For instance, the attack on the pilgrimage bus in Reasi occurred on the day PM Modi took the oath as the new PM. The recent attack took place on July 8, the day Burhan Wani a terrorsist was killed by security forces in a joint operation.
For how long will we have to shoulder coffins, hear cries, and witness mournful funerals? These tragedies only interest beasts like terrorists, not humans. Pakistan hatches conspiracies to harm us, to kill us, to make us cry, and what are we doing? We are becoming mute spectators. It is \ Pakistan’s strategy to terrorize India and spread terrorism, now it has become responsibility to crush their strategy. We must be our own saviors; no one is going to help us because we cannot choose our neighbors and must control them for our sake. The bleeding Jammu and Kashmir has always served Pakistan’s interests because its sole motive is to bleed India through thousands of cuts. Though terrorism was mainly centered in Kashmir, for the last three years, Pakistan has shifted its terror focus from the Kashmir valley to the Jammu region. This time, Jammu is being targeted to become a terror hotbed. This region, being close to the international border and having both Hindu and Muslim populations, is being targeted by terrorists trying to disrupt the rich community harmony of Jammu. By instilling fear of possible Hindu domination, minorities are being manipulated to provide logistical support, creating a divide among local communities. In the recent terror attack, it is believed that terrorists first examined the area, understood the activities of the security forces, and planned the attack with local support.
Moreover, after the successful conduct of Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir, efforts are underway to conduct assembly elections. To disrupt this process, Pakistan deliberately carries out these attacks to terrorize the people of Jammu and Kashmir and pressure the Election Commission to defer the elections. Pakistan knows well that there have been no assembly elections since the abrogation of Article 370, and this has become a tool for Pakistan to present to other countries, proving that the security situation is not normal in J&K. Pakistan also knows that, like the huge participation in the Parliamentary elections, there will be a high turnout in assembly elections, and this tool used by Pakistan will no longer exist.
After the attacks, condemnations spread widely on social media by local and national leaders. Some even advocate for talks with Pakistan. India must counter terrorism because it is us who are being killed. It is also true that terrorists are being killed, but can you compare a terrorist, born to be killed or die in terror attacks, with our brave jawans who have sworn in as the guardians of the country, who dream of seeing India reach new heights of progress and development, who have children to care for and of whom we are proud?
It’s not only we who are suffering; there are hundreds in Pakistan who have made their names in various fields, but the tag of terrorism is tarnishing their images. They are simply fed up with the vicious cycle of violence. After the terror attack on the pilgrimage bus in Reasi, Pakistani cricketer Hasan Ali recently tweeted on X: “Terrorism/violence is a serious issue be it against any race or religion, hence I shared this. I try to support peace wherever and however I can. I always have condemned the attacks in Gaza and will continue to do so wherever innocent lives are being attacked. Every human life matters. May Allah bless the people who lost their lives in Gwadar with the highest ranks in Jannah. Ameen.” Before this tweet, Ali had posted a pictorial condemnation of the terrorist attack on the pilgrimage bus in Reasi, with “All Eyes On Vaishno Devi Attack” written on it. Though he was trolled by radicalized groups in Pakistan, he later defended his views with the above tweet. Ali’s stance shows that Pakistanis too are fed up with the violence and killings, and it was a commendable gesture from him.
To stop cross-border terrorism, we need different approaches and few are
Military Option: Everyone knows about the Surgical Strike and Air Strike. Even big movies have been created on these topics, and the chances are that base camps in forward areas in Pakistan have been emptied and vacated after the attacks. More than a military action, why don’t we directly engage with the Pakistani army in open dialogue and warning? Why can’t we hold the Pakistani army responsible for every killing in Jammu and Kashmir? Because we all know that it is the Pakistani army that directly controls the administration. Putting pressure on the Pakistani army could yield results.
Financial Whipping: We forget that Pakistan fears FATF—the Financial Action Task Force, a global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog. Pakistan has been put on the grey list many times, most recently in 2021. A research paper published by a think tank in Pakistan states that Pakistan’s economy lost 38 billion dollars due to repeatedly staying in FATF’s grey list from 2008 to 2019. Now, we understand that a missile can damage 300 to 400 terrorists, but remaining in FATF’s grey list causes more harm to Pakistan than any military action. If India’s diplomatic clout is real and we are among the world leaders, then the EAM should emphasize that the grey list should be reimposed on Pakistan. We should provide proof that Pakistan is behind sponsoring terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
Diplomatic Pressure Enhancing diplomatic pressure on Pakistan through international forums and bilateral engagements is vital. India should work closely with its allies to isolate Pakistan on the global stage, emphasizing its role in sponsoring terrorism. By leveraging diplomatic channels, India can build a coalition of nations that support stringent actions against Pakistan, including sanctions and other punitive measures. Diplomatic efforts should focus on exposing Pakistan’s double standards and rallying international support for India’s counter-terrorism initiatives. Furthermore, diplomatic pressure should be exerted on Pakistan to hand over terror handlers residing comfortably in Pakistani jails, issuing orders for terrorist attacks, such as Syed Salauddin, Hafiz Saeed, and Azhar Masood. Pakistan must understand that we do not trust their judiciary, given that these terror handlers have inflicted harm upon our people. By taking this stance, we can apply significant diplomatic pressure on Pakistan.
Strengthening Human Intelligence Establishing deeper and wider intelligence networks within the local population is essential. The residents are the ones who can provide crucial clues about any suspicious or wrong activities occurring at the ground level. Their insights and observations are invaluable in identifying and addressing potential threats before they escalate. it is only though the local support that terrorists carry out attacks and if same is to be opted by us, we can get the results.
In conclusion, it is our responsibility to act and protect our nation from the continuous threat of terrorism. By adopting these multifaceted strategies, we can ensure a safer and more secure future for our brave soldiers and our country.
Rameez Makdoomi
The Kashmir Dialogues
