If any more proof was required, Sunjawan attack has provided it: the NDA regimes policy on Kashmir is not delivering the desired results on the ground. Ten persons comprising five soldiers, four militants and a civilian were killed in the umpteenth fidayeen attack since the surgical strike was carried out towards the end of 2016. What is more, the ceasefire violations have not only become a regular feature but also more intense, leading to loss of lives of the soldiers and civilians on both sides of the border. In case of Sunjwan, militants struck the Army camp despite the anticipation of such an attack being in works. The operation lasted over two days. So one can really question what is it that the surgical strike has achieved.
The statistics for the conflict-related violence in the state has shown a steady upward trend. According to Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, 515 infiltration cases were reported in 2017 in which 75 militants were killed in comparison to 454 cases in 2016 in which 45 militants were killed. Similarly, according to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, as many as 97 people, including 41 civilians, were killed and 383 others injured in 834 ceasefire violations in the last three years. It was only last week that an army captain and three other soldiers were killed and a BSF sub-inspector was injured in ceasefire violation along the Line of Control (LoC) in Tarkundi and Sunderbani areas of Rajouri district of Jammu.
On militancy front, the year was the most violent in the past seven years. Around 360 persons including 56 civilians, 218 militants and 78 security personnel were killed in various militancy related incidents. As against this, around 375 people were killed in 2010 which included 55 civilians, 242 militants and 78 security men. But if we include the recurrent short bouts of the political turmoil, then 2017 was even more violent than the 2010. The Valley kept teetering on the brink of the mass unrest but stayed just short of tipping into one.
So as the new year progresses, there is little that has changed in Kashmir. If in January last, security forces were up against 300 militants, they are up against a more or less similar number this year too. What is more, if in 2016, security forces were fighting just two militant organizations Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-i-Toiba now they are fighting six of them. The Valley has witnessed surfacing of the outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammad, Al Qaeda, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen.
As this data underlines, things have gotten only worse. January has been more violent than any other month since 2003 agreement. What is more, even while Sunjawan attack was unfolding and taking a heavy toll in terms of the lives of the soldiers, the border too flared up. So, one can question what is the redeeming difference that an unrelenting militaristic approach has made to Kashmir. If anything, it has only highlighted the urgent need for dialogue with Pakistan There is no way out of a comprehensive political initiative geared to address the factors underpinning the turmoil in the state.
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