Only four local men in Jammu and Kashmir joined militant ranks in 2024, while 60 percent of militants killed in counter-terrorism operations were Pakistani, Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi said on Monday. Speaking at the Army’s annual press conference, he highlighted that the low recruitment figures and a 60 percent voter turnout in Assembly elections were proof of the local support for peace. General Dwivedi attributed the ongoing violence in the union territory to infiltration from Pakistan but added that the enhanced counter-terrorism measures and troop reinforcements in the region has succeeded in reigning it in. The situation, the Army chief asserted, remains well under control, a reason for the growth of tourism in recent years.
General Dwivedi, however, acknowledged that challenges persist. He blamed the terror infrastructure across the border for keeping the militancy alive in J&K, saying the infiltration attempts, drone incursions, and narcotics smuggling continued unabated. Last two years have also witnessed a surge in militant activity in the Jammu division, leading to the loss of nearly 50 soldiers. The districts like Rajouri, Poonch, and Doda hogged the headlines for the resurfacing of militancy. The districts have been sites of successive militant attacks which have led to loss of many a security force lives. 2024 also saw militancy returning to Kashmir Valley, with two major attacks taking place in Ganderbal and Gulmarg. Although the situation has normalized over the last few weeks, security agencies can’t afford to let their guard down. More so, considering the changing nature of militancy in the union territory.
As the relative peace of the last few months has demonstrated, the security forces have been able to force the militancy to retreat, showing the efficacy of the revamped security approach. But sustaining these gains will require a multi-pronged strategy involving security, development, and diplomacy. And above all, understanding the nature of militancy in the union territory. Although the number of local militants in the Valley has steeply gone down in recent years with the last year recording the lowest recruitment, this isn’t a true indicator of the retreat of militancy. As the violence in the last two years has demonstrated, the shortfall in local recruitment is replenished by the infiltration from Pakistan. This has been the story of J&K militancy over the past more than three decades and a factor in its perpetuation. The best counter-insurgency strategy that would help can’t be entirely security-centric. It has always alienated people. We need one that reaches out to people and seeks their cooperation. A sustainable peace in Jammu and Kashmir will depend on giving people a genuine sense of empowerment within the existing system, ensuring they feel invested in shaping their own future.
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