Security agencies in the region are taking proactive measures to reassess their security strategies in the backdrop of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a rise in the number of foreign militants in Jammu and Kashmir. A meeting of top officials and security agencies was held at the headquarters of the 15 Corps in Srinagar, to discuss the need for a security response to the evolving situation.
Since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the frequency of street protests in Jammu and Kashmir has progressively abated to a point where such protests are no longer held. However, the ongoing Israeli invasion of Gaza has triggered concerns that street unrest might resurface. People in Kashmir are closely watching the situation in Gaza, and there is a fear that it could lead to a law-and-order situation.
One of the major concerns discussed in this high-profile meeting was the changing landscape of militancy in the region. The role of foreign militants has become increasingly prominent as local recruitment dwindles. Official figures reveal that out of the 46 militants killed in the Union Territory this year, 37 were foreigners, while only nine were locals. This is the first time after 2015 that the number of foreign militants killed significantly outweighs that of local militants.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, around 130 militants are currently operating in the Valley, with more than half of them being foreigners. The apprehension is that those hiding in the upper reaches may descend into the Valley, further complicating the security situation.
The security dynamics in Kashmir are further complicated by the impending winter season. The treacherous terrain and extreme weather pose additional challenges for security personnel. It is true that the evolving security situation in the union territory demands a proactive and adaptive approach from the administration. As the situation in Kashmir remains fluid, staying ahead of the curve in terms of security is important to maintaining peace and order.
That said, while security agencies need to prepare for the worst case scenarios, it is not necessary that such scenarios will come to pass. For example, the apprehensions that the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan in 2021 will revive militancy in Kashmir didn’t materialize. Over the last two years, even though the militancy in Kashmir has been very low-key, and a large number of militants have been killed, the militancy is very much alive and kicking. But at the same time it hasn’t dented the prevailing sense of normalcy in the region and for which people haven’t been sufficiently rewarded. What is needed is a political outreach which has been singularly missing for the past four years.
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