The Army Chief General Manoj Pande on Wednesday attributed the escalation in militancy related violence in Rajouri-Poonch region over the last 5-6 months to the attempt by adversaries to disrupt the prevailing normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking to media in the run up to Army Day on January 15, General Pande said that between 2003 and 2017-18, militancy in the Rajouri and Poonch districts had been effectively curtailed, and peace had prevailed. However, the recent spike in terrorist activities indicates a resurgence of unrest. He pointed out that the Pakistan Army is actively involved in fuelling militancy in the area, attempting to amplify instability.
The situation certainly became worse in Jammu 2023 with security forces losing over twenty personnel in ambushes by militants. That said, the security situation improved remarkably last year, despite some conspicuous rise in violence. According to data, around 121 persons including 21 local militants, 52 infiltrators, 29 soldiers, 4 policemen, 14 civilians, and a BSF personnel were killed in Jammu and Kashmir in 2023
At the same time, there has been an 80 percent decrease in the recruitment of local youth in the militant ranks in 2023. The figures put the number of local youth who took up arms last year at just 22 compared to around 100 in 2022. There are now just 31 local identified militants active across Jammu and Kashmir. “27 local active terrorists belong to Kashmir zone while 4 from Jammu areas.”
Army chief in his interaction also highlighted the positives in the situation. He emphasized the continuation of the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) despite the infiltration attempts, many of which the Army has successfully thwarted. General Pande also highlighted the robust anti-drone mechanism along the border to counter the use of drones for smuggling weapons and narcotics.
Army, according to the Army chief, has signed contracts worth Rs 12,000 crore with private Indian firms. These contracts encompass major projects, including the development of light tanks and future-ready combat vehicles which will go a long way to boost indigenous defense capabilities. More so, at a time, when India faces an increasingly tough security environment, both along the LoC with Pakistan and the LAC with China. Even Army chief termed the situation along the Northern border stable but “sensitive”.
Going forward, India has to not only be prepared for the evolving regional threats but also find a way to fashion a peaceful regional environment by repairing ties with its neighbours, especially Pakistan and China. The strong government at the Centre under prime minister Narendra Modi is best positioned to make this a reality.
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