New Doctrine & the Terrorist Food Chain

Three heavily armed and well-trained terrorists were recently killed in Dachigam forests, with forensic links to the Pahalgam attack. Their presence signals a broader infiltration, as more such groups are believed to be hiding in the region, awaiting orders.

Objectives of the Pahalgam Terror Attack

The Pahalgam terror attack served three primary objectives for these terrorist groups:

• To halt tourism and disrupt Jammu & Kashmir’s growing economy.
• To compel security forces to launch widespread and forceful counter-terrorism operations. 
  • This strategy aimed to foster public resentment against the armed forces, thereby re-igniting secessionist tendencies among the populace.
• To create communal division across the country. The terrorists deliberately separated Muslims from Hindus, and gunned down the latter with the specific aim of instigating riots and widespread communal discord.

India’s New Doctrine For Terrorism

In response to these evolving threats, India has adopted a new doctrine:

• Every terrorist attack will now be treated as an act of war.
• Retaliation will extend beyond the terrorists themselves to include their sponsors, specifically targeting the Pakistani military establishment.
• This policy establishes a clear ‘red line’. India will conduct strikes similar to the surgical strikes and Balakot air strikes if any terror attack occurs. 
  • While this creates a deterrent effect, war is inherently costly and demands constant military preparedness. The emphasis is on prevention rather than cure.

Comprehensive Solutions to Counter Terrorism

• Economic and Technological Solutions: Revitalising tourism is paramount. The presence of excessive security checks and restrictions on movement deters tourists.
  • India should adopt concepts like China’s ‘Safe Cities Project’. This involves deploying AI-enabled cameras for face recognition and efficient surveillance. 
  • This technology can reduce the need for a highly visible military presence, making areas more tourist-friendly. 
  • For example, Islamabad has become relatively safer due to China sharing its expertise in setting up 3,000 AI-enabled cameras.
  • Increased tourism creates employment opportunities, engaging the youth and deterring them from resorting to violence.
• Information Warfare: It is crucial to combat the spread of fake news and deceptive videos that intensify communal tensions. Terrorist organisations like Al-Qaeda have actively sought to incite ‘holy war’ among Indian subcontinent Muslims through messages in English and Urdu.
  • The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) must update its guidelines to counter propaganda particularly in border areas like West Bengal, where a variety of criminal elements operate together with jihadis from Bangladesh.
  • An empowered committee of experts, including specialists in information warfare and social sciences, should be established to develop scientific solutions against communal propaganda.
• Round-the-Clock Operational Readiness
  • Continuous, 24/7 operational readiness is essential.
  • The military must maintain sufficient stock of stand-off war weapons and inventory to sustain prolonged conflicts.
  • Superior intelligence is paramount – ‘better eyes and better ears’ are needed to prevent undetected infiltrations, such as during the Kargil conflict. This requires strengthening both human intelligence and technical intelligence.
  • Vigilant tracking of terrorist funding via hawala networks is critical, which is often difficult.
  • Intelligence agencies require adequate funding to carry out their operations effectively.
  • Collaboration with international partners is vital for effective counter-terrorism operations.
• Reorienting Diplomacy Towards Democratic Stability:
  • Terrorism is primarily sponsored by the Pakistan Army and its proxies.
  • Diplomacy must promote a democracy-first narrative in Pakistan.
    • International aid should be tied to democratic reforms and civilian supremacy.
• Tackling Terrorism: Addressing the Full Ecosystem: 
  • Counterterrorism efforts must target the entire food chain: From ambitious military generals, intelligence handlers, hawala traders and ideological networks.
  • Military confrontation feeds extremism by legitimising their narrative.
  • Sustained peace efforts can suffocate terrorist networks by cutting off relevance and support.