Visiting Kashmir almost exactly after a year, one is struck by the many changes towards normalcy. Srinagar city has seen a rush of tourists not witnessed for the last fifteen years.  Not just Indians trying to beat the heat of the plains, but hordes of international visitors drawn by Kashmir’s beauty. Overall the Valley is peaceful and sullenly normal.

The border areas in particular are quiet after many years.  The cease-fire has made an enormous difference to the lives of all those who inhabit these places. Not least of the Army which is deployed on mountain tops in extreme conditions of weather. This is enough of a challenge to survival, but when this is combined with incessant firing, the stress can be enormous. The forward Division I visited, which is deployed in a most difficult area and commanded by a brilliant General had developed an innovative scheme for rejuvenating the troops. As a result of this and other measures by him morale is sky high. Even in the hinterland militant actions are sporadic and ineffective, though tragic strikes continue, as a mine attack against the vehicle of soldiers and families of a para-military force returning in a convoy from the Valley demonstrated.

The Army has been hyperactive during this period. It has been busy consolidating its positions, spending more time and energy in interacting with the people and revitalising the Sadhbhavana (Goodwill) projects. Managed mainly by the Army, these have made a tremendous difference to the lives of the people in the border areas and in integrating them with the rest of India.

One of the major tasks undertaken by the Army is fencing the Line of Control (LC). The 740kms long line will be entirely fenced by a deep, multi-tiered concertina and barbed wire fence enclosed by long angle iron pickets. These will be reinforced by acoustic warning systems, hand held radars in posts, lighting arrangements and additional obstacles where needed. The costs are enormous and so is the effort. Each bag of cement, angle iron picket and concertina wire has to be ferried by a variety of transport to the border area and the final stretch is carried by men often at high altitude over steep mountain sides where no trails exist. Only the Indian soldier can undertake such a massive task under these conditions. He is helped of course by valiant local porters. In the process they earn a very healthy sum of money. If a person owns a few horses or mules, he has the possibility of becoming quite rich even in a single season. Not enough labour is available locally even at fairly steep prices. Thanks to Laloo’s Bihar, there is no shortage from that blighted province, but the logistics of moving them to Kashmir remain formidable.

The fencing is enormously expensive. I suspect about one third of the cost of construction will need to be spent every year to maintain it. At many places there is often snowfall between 30-40 feet every winter, with a potential to destroy everything under it. This has been a bold and innovative step by the Army and the results promise to be dramatic. Infiltration across the LC will effectively end. The few that may still cross will be dealt with close to the LC. The effect is already apparent, it is likely to be dramatic very soon.

Are we prepared to exploit the possibilities? I am not so sure. The following measures are urgent:

·         A more sustained operation in the hinterland, isolating the terrorists that remain and eliminating them. Good operational intelligence will be vital at this stage.

·         Resistance from the terrorists in the short term is likely to be high. Knowing their return blocked, some are likely to launch suicide attacks even as others lose hope. Security will need to be heightened.

·         A greater coordination of all agencies and forces will be essential for this phase of the operation.

·         In this connection it is imperative that the system of unified command of all forces is firmly put in place. Only then will the myriad activities of counter-terrorist operations in the entire province be better managed.

The next couple of years will be crucial. Combined with a political offensive these developments have the possibility of “solving” the Kashmir question as never before. Both imagination and determination are essential for this.

I had a long session with the Governor in the Raj Bhawan. One of the most remarkable soldiers of the Indian Army, he has been personally involved with the Kashmir question since 1947. The country is fortunate to have him there at this critical stage. Still very fit, he has been touring the forward areas where few civilians have ever gone before. His understanding of the environment and what is required at this stage is remarkable. The nation needs to persist with him. Far too often we have demonstrated an adeptness to shoot ourselves in the foot, which if repeated now will severely harm the national cause.