Context:
The Indian Army is launching Operation Sarvashakti to counter terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
About Operation Sarvashakti
- Genesis: Pakistani proxy terrorist groups have tried to revive terrorism in the area South of Pir Panjal ranges, especially the Rajouri-Poonch Sector.
- Strategic Coordination: The Indian Army has started in close coordination with the Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF, Special Operations Group, and the intelligence agencies.
- Geographics Focus Both sides of the Pir Panjal ranges and Rajouri-Poonch Sector.
- Other Examples: The operations are expected to be on the lines of Operation Sarpvinash, which was launched in 2003 to eliminate terrorists from the same areas in the South of Pir Panjal range.
Also Refer: Why Terrorist Activity Shifted From Kashmir to Poonch-Rajouri
Militancy in J&K
- Background: Since 1947, Pakistan has tried to destabilise the Jammu and Kashmir area to gain leverage over the area, leading to accession.
- This has led to 3 wars in 1947, 1965 and 1971 which was a form of direct confrontation.
- Low Intensity War: On realizing that direct confrontation is not effective, Pakistan resorted to the tactics of low intensity war and started the separatist and militant insurgency in Kashmir in the late 1980s in the name of religious Jihad.
- Growth of Insurgency: The existence of dis-satisfied group of Kashmiris named Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) was used by Pakistan as a growing bed for insurgency.
- Organisations: Since then with the help of Pakistani Intelligence Agency ISI several organizations like Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed Harkart-ul-Jehad-e-islami (Huji), etc have come up.
- Impact: Pakistan’s direct or indirect involvement in the funding and training of terrorist organizations in the Jammu and Kashmir region became a major external security threat for India.
Methodology of Proxy War in J&K
- Propaganda: Various malicious campaigns to brainwash the people of the valley and create trust deficit towards India.
- Border Infiltration: Infiltration of terrorists from across the border and affect the ongoing developmental works in the valley.
- Dark Web: Use of information technology in training and recruitment of terrorists.
- Global Stage: Internationalise the issue of Kashmir at forums like the UN and create an image of India as biased towards a particular religion.
- Use of locals: The locals have become the eyes and ears of terrorist groups. They provide sensitive information about military installations; base stations and they even provide shelter to these groups.
Source: LiveMint
January 17, 2024