Pakistan's Cross Border Terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir

01 Sep, 2001    ·   566

Maj Gen Ashok Krishna provides a behind-the-stage-glimpse of the cross border terrorism being orchestrated by Pakistan
Maj. Gen. Ashok Krishna (Retd)
In the last decade, terrorist groups in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) have killed more than 30,000 civilians and 6000 defence personnel. The political parties have not been spared either. The National Conference has lost 205 members, Congress 49, Janta Dal 10, BJP 9, CPI (M) 5 and the Awami League 5. More than 350,000 people have been rendered homeless. The terrorists have attacked 45 security forces’ establishments in the last year. Between 1990 and 2000, the security forces have recovered 20,365 AK rifles, 8,825 pistols, 959 UMGs, 308 sniper rifles, 615 rocket launchers, 1,687 rocket boosters, 75 LMGs, 757 assorted weapons and 25,000 kg of RDX. 

 

 

Since 1990, over 9000 militants have been killed in J&K and approximately 24,000 apprehended. The terrorists belonged mainly to Pakistan and Afghanistan ; some were from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and few others were from Bangladesh , Sudan , Turkey , Bahrain , Chechenya, Iran , Kazakhastan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen . 

 

 

There are about 8000-10,000 registered madrassas (religious schools) and between 40,000 to 50,000 unregistered madrassas in Pakistan . A recent report from Pakistan suggests that as many as 1.7 million children and young men are being trained in these madrassas for jihad in J&K. These madrassas receive about 64 percent of their funding from Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia and Libya , and Pakistan provides the rest.  Militant groups draw their recruits from the madrassas; some join them from the educated classes. 

 

 

In the first phase, the recruit receives intensive religious education and basic firearms training. In the second phase, he is sent to a training camp where he is taught to fire live ammunition, bombs, rockets and explosives. He learns to use communication equipment. About 90 terrorist training camps are operating in Pakistan and PoK; over 30 are located in PoK. The Harkat-ul-Mujahideen provides shelter, food and clothing for the trainees at these camps, whilst the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan provides weapons, ammunition, transport and specialist instructors. In the third phase, the local commander selects the best trainees and sends them to safe houses along the Line of Control (LoC). These launch pads are situated about 3 km from the LoC. The Pakistan Army then takes them to a forward post and gives them food, ammunition and Indian currency. Thereafter, they cross the LoC accompanied by their more seasoned colleagues. Infiltration is in small groups of 3-4 men. They congregate at pre-arranged points to form bigger groups of up to 20, depending on the objective. The group penetrates into a specified area, which is under the command of an area commander who assigns them specific tasks to be carried out from their hideouts, or bases within populated areas. Presently, 6000-10,000 terrorists could be operating in J&K, with about 70 percent being foreign mercenaries.

 

 

Each militant is paid between Rs. 2000 to Rs. 3000 (US$ 44 – 66) per month depending on his experience and status in the terrorist outfit. In case a terrorist dies in action, his or her family gets compensation ranging from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 30,000 (US$ 444 – 666). ISI agents active in Kashmir receive between Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1,00,000 (US$ 1111 – 2222) per month as emoluments. They are accorded five-star comforts during their visits to Rawalpindi . The ISI and its cooperating Islamic organisations spend over Rs. 100 crores (US$ 22 million) a year to run their proxy war in Kashmir . 

 

 

Keeping the aim of a long-term struggle in view, the militants bury large quantities of weapons, explosives and ammunition wrapped in preservative materials in caves and hideouts for convenient retrieval in times of need. The attacks on posts and headquarters of the security forces are launched to force them to defend themselves rather than launch offensive action. Much of the criticism directed against the state government for not undertaking developmental activity to win the hearts and minds of the people, is not wholly justified; under the existing circumstances, no state government can pursue such programmes with success till peaceful conditions are first created by the military.

 

 

With the fundamentalists there can be no dialogue for, having heard the voice of God, they are deaf to human reason. Dialogue and a peace process can only succeed if terrorism is first crushed. There are no soft options left for India . The threat is spreading to the rest of India . Pakistan has reportedly recruited 21,000 Indian spies. Over 10,000 Pakistani and other foreigners have already infiltrated into India . Time is the essence. Those who seek to bleed India must be defeated in the shortest possible time. Ignoring or downplaying the emerging threat would lead to faulty and irrelevant policy responses.

 

 

The world must be told in unambiguous terms that India will not allow terror and intimidation to succeed. Next, Pakistan should be told to close terrorist camps in PoK within a period of, say 60 days, or, face the consequences. Military operations should be launched to isolate the terrorists, disrupt their planning and operations. Terrorists who are apprehended should face trial for their crimes. One of the reasons why Kargil occurred was because our conventional capability had been neglected. All deficiencies must immediately be made up. If our preparations are timely and thorough, Pakistan could well see reason. 

 

 

 

POPULAR COMMENTARIES