India averted yet another major terror attack at Pulwama. A joint operation by Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF and Indian Army prevented a massive car bomb attack after they stopped a vehicle carrying 40-45 kg of Improvised Explosive Device (IED). The initial reports suggest that the terror plan was the handiwork of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) bearing chilling similarities with last year’s terror attack in Pulwama, when over 40 jawans were killed as a suicide bomber drove a car full of explosives into a CRPF convoy. This botched up attempt by terrorists comes close on the heels of continued success of joint operations by security forces in neutralising key terrorists as evident with the killing of Hizbul commander Riyaz Naikoo earlier this month.

 

The security forces in the midst of global pandemic Covid-19 have revised their strategy in combating terrorism in Kashmir. As part of their new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), it is reported that security forces decided to deny the publicity given to terrorists by naming them or their organisations, disallow large gatherings at the funeral of local militants, maintain strict vigil on the social media, and intensify counter militant operations. More than 50 militants have been killed in the encounter in 2020, and around 25 were killed after the Covid-19 lockdown was put in place. Although there has been an escalation in infiltration attempts from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu & Kashmir and a surge in militant violence, the situation in Kashmir is stable but fragile as observed by Lt Gen B S Raju, the General Officer Commanding of Srinagar-based XV Corps (Chinar Corps).

There has been recent spike in ceasefire violations (CFVs) along the LoC by Pakistan. During the first three months of this year, Pakistan indulged in ceasefire violations as many as 1,144 times. The corresponding period in 2019 and 2018 saw 685 and 627 violations respectively.

 

Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane stated: “India will give proportionate response to all acts of infringement of ceasefire and support to terrorism by Pakistan. The recent infiltration attempts along the LoC shows that Pakistan is not interested in battling the Coronavirus pandemic and is still following its own myopic and limited agenda of pushing terrorists inside India.” It is reported that there are 242 active terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), including 104 Pakistanis belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).

 

After the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, Pakistan is leaving no stone unturned to foment trouble in the Valley. The Resistance Front (TRF) is a recent attempt by Pakistan’s ISI to put an India label on terror activities that it sponsors in Jammu and Kashmir. It is reported the TRF is an outfit for LeT that has taken responsibility of late for major terror attacks in J&K over the past few weeks. For instance TRF through its social media claimed responsibility for the attack in Keran sector and the gun fight in Handwara.

This TRF project is designed to give terror in Kashmir an indigenous face to ward off international pressure, particularly from the anti-terror financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF), over Islamabad sponsoring Islamist terror groups and what New Delhi describes them as jihadi terror factories. Indian security forces have time and again proven capable of undoing Pakistan’s nefarious designs of terror activities. Pakistan has failed miserably in bleeding India by a thousand cuts as India was always ahead of the game.

In this time of pandemic, security forces have seized the opportunity to continue its goodwill gestures by working in tandem with local authorities in containing the spread of the Coronavirus. In this regard, the Army has launched a multi-pronged campaign to reach out to people in remote and rural areas of J&K and educate and assist them in the fight against Coronavirus. As part of the campaign titled “Jointly we will put an end to Corona”, distribution of pamphlets, masks, sanitisers and also ration is being done besides installation of hand wash facilities.

The Army has distributed pamphlets in bilingual language giving out vital information to counter Covid-19 among Gujjar and Bakarwal communities residing in Rakhmuthi and Devipur villages of district Jammu. People living in remote villages of Murrah and Kulali in district Poonch have been educated about the symptoms; causes of spread and how to overcome Covid-19 by display of flex boards at prominent places and distribution of pamphlets. The Army has distributed masks, soaps and sanitisers in various hamlets of Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi, Ramban and Doda districts. Loudspeaker fitted Army vehicles have been touring remote areas of Jammu, Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Reasi, Udhampur and Kathua districts and announcements were being made asking people to restrict movement as part of the lockdown.

Security forces in Kashmir have not lowered their guard and instead been more vigilant and steadfast to intensify their counter terrorism operations on the basis of specific, actionable inputs in the times of Covid-19. India is capable of outmanoeuvring Pakistan’s designs of terror in times of the pandemic with the sole objective to provide succor to the people of J&K.

Dr Mathew Simon is a researcher at Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MPIDSA). Views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the MPIDSA or of the Government of India or Raksha Anirveda