Six years ago, Pulwama happened on February 14, 2019. . It delivered its own message to the people of Kashmir and to the rest of the nation. Subsequently this message was also delivered to Pakistan, and by extension to the rest of the world. The sixth anniversary of the terror attack that left 40 CRPF personnel dead has arrived at a time when Pulwama is still a question mark on the national security. Pulwama type incident may not happen again because of the heightened security and pronounced “zero tolerance to terrorism” approach of which Kashmir has become an iconic symbol in the past over five years .But the elements of threat have not evaporated and terrorism , though operating is shadows , is not behind us.
With this attack, the image of the valley got furthered darkened in the eyes of the people across the country. It had to be as the body bags of the martyred CRPF personnel reached in different parts of the country , evoking images of the buses going up in flames with limbs scattered all over the bloodied road that happened to be the only road link to Kashmir.
From the very beginning of the year 2019, as it had inherited from its previous years, Kashmir was in the e grip of street violence. Stone throwing mobs, particularly youngsters, could halt traffic and life anywhere they chose to. There was no restriction on them. Law and order agencies were fatigued in dealing with the recurring situations of this kind. The use of force often resulted in fatal casualties and they were charged with using excessive force. The things had come to such a pass that the young boys, in their teens could heckle the army personnel and stone their convoys. Stones were seen best shield against action by the security agencies as it were the latter that were made answerable, not the stone throwers.
Simultaneously, there were gun battles between the militants and security forces. Militants would get neutralized and at times soldiers too suffered casualties. This hide and seek game had become too familiar in the Valle, but nevertheless it was a serious situation. Stones and guns had covered the whole landscape, particularly in south Kashmir- comprising four districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama. The security forces were dismayed by the challenge to their authority. This was a contrast to the days when their presence inspired awe. That had faded. In a conflict situation when the population stops fearing the security forces that adds more dangerous challenges. That’s what was happening.
The genesis of Pulwama was both psychological and physical. Terrorists are always at look out for something spectacular. The targets were there, and they solved the problem of logistics with local support and aid from Pakistan. The locals were under impression that their act of high-volume terror violence would not evoke any major response as that would lead to huge hue and cry. The noise of the human rights activists and political parties always served as a shield in advance. Pakistan, though having tasted the medicine of surgical strike in September 2016 in retaliation to terror assault on Uri garrison, thought that any such attack would not bring punishment to it. That was its mistake. The reality is that the retaliation changed the whole dynamic of crime and punishment of cross-border terrorism.
Pakistan had not expected that Indian aircraft could bomb terror training camps deep inside. The Indian aerial strikes in Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa took it by surprise. Not only was its air defence broken but its image of innocence in the eyes of the world. The world did not comment on the Indian action against Pakistan, establishing its support against the terrorism. The world shared India’s description of Pakistan as epicentre of terrorism.
Politically, though it is not very clear yet, but Pulwama did become a defining incident that led the Modi government to go in for the abrogation of Article 370. Pulwama had changed the whole thinking about tackling terrorism. It was not to be managed alternating between or simultaneous dialogue and counter-terrorism operations. The dialogue part came to an end with the terror attack, though officially it was called off post-abrogation of Article 370. The country was preparing for general elections when Pulwama happened. This made BJP to reiterate its commitment to doing away with the controversial constitutional provisions in its manifesto. .The Pulwama terror attack also Ladakh and J&K. brought the terrorism part into sharp focus. That also made the union Government to announce split of the state into two union territories of Ladakh and J&K. Today, J&K is reconciling to its reduced geography and downgraded status because of Pulwama incident and the situation that made it happen.
Today, it is vastly improved situation on the ground , but another worrying factor of Pakistan’s attempts to keep J&K on boil are also going on . It may not be easy for Pakistan to revert the clock to pre- August 2019 days, but that it is seeking to radicalize and recruit terrorists in Kashmir for committing acts of terror is a worrying factor. It has not taken any stern action against the Jaish leadership , including its chief Masood Azahar who was listed as a designated terrorist by the UN Security Council on May 1, 2019., that means that Pulwama case is waiting for its closure.
