JAMMU: When Jammu and Kashmir was placed under Central rule and Mr Jagmohan assumed office as Governor on Jan 19 last year, even sceptic harbored hopes that the problem of militancy in the Kashmir valley would be resolved within a couple of months, Such hopes rested on the administrative ability of Mr Jagmohan and strong action by the security forces.
The hopes have been belied, if not totally shattered as anti-India insurgency continues. Protagonists of Central rule had, while forecasting immediate success for Mr Jagmohan and his administration overlooked the enormous preparations made by Pakistan in training and arming Kashmiri youths for launching guerrilla warfare in the valley.
The two blasts, one in front of the Central Telegraph Office and another in Srinagar Club, on July 31,1988, marked the advent of militancy in Kashmir, At that time even the Congress (1) NC(F) alliance government treated the blast as minor acts engineered by misguided youths. Since then there has been no end to violence in the valley.
By the end of 1988, several hundred Kashmiri youths returned to the valley trained in handling weapons and huge quantities of arms and ammunition had been smuggled into Kashmir from across the Line of Actual Control.
Between September,1988, and August,1989, about 30 trained militants were arrested and arms and ammunition, including 42 Kalashnikovs rifles, were recovered, During the same period underground agencies succeeded in sending back several thousand trained youths to the valley as the alliance government continued believing that acts of sabotage and killings were the outcome of frustration among the unemployed youth. Dr Farooq Abdullah, who headed the then state government in a series of public utterances conveyed to the center that once he was given more funds for removing economic problems the turmoil would vanish, During the three months stay in Srinagar Raj Bhavan, Mr Saxena supported the idea of initiating political process in Kashmir. He not yet suggested modalities for initiating the process.
New Delhi has not so far been able to adopt measures for blunting impact of the proxy war waged by others in the Kashmir valley, forcing many to believe that the key to success against the militancy in valley lies in the hands of the rulers Pakistan.
Central rule has also failed check the exodus of over 100,000 Hindus and over 20,000 Muslims from valley. It is argued that had the state authorities created a couple of security zones within the valley, the emigration could have been check.
However, the Central rule cannot refute its failure to check militancy from being spread to the neighboring Jammu region. This failure is course, not as serious as the failure removes the feeling of alienation among the people of the valley.
Reports indicate that state terrorism has resulted in resentment among those sections of the people who had been hitherto sitting on the fence. The government has taken action against some erring officials of the security forces but the militants have the sympathy of the masses. Central rue cannot be a permant solution and it is time for the political parties to get active and win support of the people.
Though the drive against the militants should be continued, diplomatic pressure on Pakistan for its proxy war is considered imperative for the solution to the Kashmir problem.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 25, 1991
