We need to recognize that Kashmir needs a radically new narrative. And that may involve abolishing Article 370
The moment of truth for New Delhi about the
presence of Islamic State (IS) terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir seems to have
arrived with the killing of Dawood, the head of the Islamic State J&K
(ISJK) and three other terrorists in a gunfight in Srigufwara area in Anantnag
district, on June 22.
For too long,
both New Delhi and J&K leaders of all hues, have been in a state of denial
about the presence of the Islamic State in the state, ignoring the black
Islamic State (IS) flags held aloft by stone pelting mobs attacking security
forces in Kashmir.
In fact, when
waving of the first flags of IS appeared among the crowds as early as October
2014, the then chief minister, Omar Abdullah, denied the presence of IS in the
state and described them as acts of "some idiots" to catch media
attention.
In November
2017, when a suspected IS terrorist Mugeez was killed in an encounter with
security forces in Srinagar in which a sub inspector was also killed, the IS
flags appeared in the funeral covering his body. New Delhi still chose to
ignore the IS presence, which was now more than some "idiots" waving
its black flags.
Even when the
IS propaganda channel, Al Amaq, said, "It assassinated an element of
police in firing near city of Srinagar in Kashmir," alluding to the
killing of Hurriyat Conference leader Fazal Haq Qureshi and a policeman in the
Soura area of Srinagar on February 22, 2018, New Delhi promptly went into
denial mode just as Srinagar always did. Perhaps, it did not suit their
political narrative.
On the
occasion, though the DGP of the state, SP Vaid, had said the presence of IS in
the state was worrisome, a home ministry spokesperson said emphatically:
"There is no physical infrastructure or manpower of the IS in the Valley.
It does not exist in the Valley."
For too long,
we have been blaming the ISI bosses and Pakistan-based jihadi terror groups for
inciting militancy in the Valley, ignoring the IS spreading its tentacles
through social media. It suited Pakistan's narrative also as it had been
claiming IS had not taken roots in the country.
In fact, the IS
declared its intent to enter India with the forming of the IS India group - Al
Hind in 2016. The IS cadres started dispersing after its successive defeats in
Iraq and Syria from 2016 onwards. One terrorist suspected to be involved in
train sabotage in Lucknow was shot in a gunfight on March 2017; according to
the police he probably had IS links.
Kashmir
probably offers a fertile ground as it has a long history of Pakistan-sponsored
terrorism against the state, gingered with the local demand for azadi.
Social media expansion provided increasing opportunities to
reach potential aspirants.
On the same day of the security forces' encounter with the
IS terrorists in Anantnag district, in distant Indonesia, the case of 2016 IS
terrorist attack in Jakarta was brought to a close.
A five-judge panel sentenced to death radical cleric Aman
Abdurrahman, the de facto head of IS in Indonesia, for his role in inciting
others to commit terror attacks in Indonesia.
The court found the 46-year-old head of the
Islamic extremist network Jamaah Ansharut Douala (JAD) planned and incited
others to carry out terrorist acts. The JAD's 2016 terror attack was first
claimed by the IS in Southeast Asia The presiding judge said: "The
defendant has either met his followers face to face or distributed his
write-ups widely on the internet, MP3 clips as well as audio calls."
Commenting on the judgement, Adhe Bhakti of the Centre for
Radicalism and Deradicalisation Studies (Pakar) was quoted by The Strait Times
as saying "bear in mind that Aman Abdurrahman is an ideologue. Even his
words could move others to commit terror acts. What we have today is the death
penalty slapped on that influential person spreading those words."
If Indonesia, with the largest Muslim population, is taking
IS inspired terrorism so seriously, for how long are we going to play ducks and
drakes with jihadi terror in Kashmir to suit political narratives?
We need to recognise that Kashmir needs a radically new
narrative. And that may involve abolishing Article 370 according a special
status to J&K and make it a full-fledged part of India. Even Pakistan has done
it by merging the part of J&K it had occupied with the rest of the country.
Do we have the courage of conviction?
I wish I could say yes with confidence.
Col R Hariharan, a retired
Military Intelligence specialist on South Asia, has rich experience in terrorism
and insurgency operations.
Courtesy: India
Today opinion portal Daily O
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