Stand by India in fight against terrorism for peace, democracy and progress -The Asian Age

Terming  Article 370 an internal issue of India, EU parliamentarians visited Jammu and Kashmir and said they stand by the country in its fight against global terrorism.

Addressing a press conference on the last day of their two-day visit to the Valley, the group of 23 members of European Parliament also condemned the killing of five laborers from West Bengal by terrorists."If we talk about Article 370 it is India's internal matter. What concerns us is terrorism which is a global menace and we should stand with India in fighting it.

We belong to a place Europe which is peaceful after years of fighting. And we want to see India becoming the most peaceful country in the world. And for that we need to stand by India in its fight against global terrorism.

This visit has been an eye opener and we would definitely advocate what we have seen on ground zero,"they told reporters. The delegation is the first high-level foreign visit to Kashmir after the August 5 decision of the Centre to revoke the state's special status and bifurcate it into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

We know countries of Europe fought among themselves based on religions and colonies for several hundred years. They also fought for three decades from 1618-1648 to demarcate the boundary. Most commonly, the idea of a nation-state was and is associated with the rise of the modern system of states, often called the "Westphalian system" in reference to the Treaty of Westphalia (1648).

The balance of power that characterized that system depended on its effectiveness upon clearly defined, centrally controlled, independent entities, whether empires or nation-states, that recognized each other's sovereignty and territory. The Westphalian system did not create the nation-state, but the nation-state meets the criteria for its component states.

Let us analyze the situation describing the political and terrorist activities in Pakistan. Pakistan has found itself completely isolated in the international community after the Indian government's decision to strip the special status accorded to Jammu and Kashmir. Islamabad has been snubbed on all fronts as the international community made it clear that Kashmir is strictly India's internal matter.

Desperate attempts have been made within Pakistan where government has not only encouraged protests but also organized political rallies across the country to show mass support and resentment against India's decision. National leaders and Ministers have joined the fray in trying to drum up support within Pakistan against India's decision to abrogate Article 370.

Not satisfied with this, Pakistan even downgraded bilateral ties with India and suspended all bilateral trade activities, communication and railways which facilitated people to people ties with each other.

The military too has been flexing its muscle on the issue, warning that any misadventure in Kashmir will be retaliated. Terror groups have been in the forefront of anti-India protests in PoJK while renewing their fresh call for Jihad against the backdrop of abrogation of Article 370.  The terror groups which are now regrouping seem to have no fear of the Pakistan government.

Many operatives are now openly holding rallies and protests and giving inflammatory speeches to espouse the cause of Jihad against India. Maulana Masood Azhar, Chief of terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) who was in May 2019 designated as a global terrorist, by United Nations Security Council (UNSC) urged Kashmiris not to wait for any support/instruction and initiate Jihad against India.

The move comes in the backdrop of India's decision to revoke Article 370.  These groups had been keeping a low profile in the aftermath of Pulwama attack in February 2019, amidst global condemnation for their role in the suicide bombings that killed over 50 Indian security forces. Pakistan army has been regularly deploying cadres of Pak-based terror groups along LoC and International border on observation duties for targeting BSF and Indian army posts.

As per information, about 375 terrorists from several terrorist groups including LeT, JeM, Al-Badr have been called for training in training centers located in Ambore area, Muzaffarabad of PoJK and of these 75 will be engaged in fidayeen training. Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) one of the deadliest terror groups operating from Pakistan which is known for carrying out fidayeen (suicide) attacks is planning to target not only Jammu and Kashmir but also Gujarat and Maharashtra.

It is evident from the above description that terrorist groups with the help of Pakistan administration have intensified their activities and preparation is going on for attacks. The following description will also give an idea regarding their movement and actions.

In Kashmir, recent incidents of grenade attack in a market area in South Kashmir, targeting of apple traders, laborers among others indicate the nefarious design by the Pak backed terror groups. SSG Commandos of Pakistan Army are providing training to JeM terrorists at Mangla Dam, Mirpur and Daryalpur, Gulpur since June 2019. Pak/ISI is leaving no stone unturned as it seeks to synergize all terror groups operating from Pakistan in an effort to activate and launch a major terror offensive against India.  

Accordingly, the cadres of HizbulMujahideen have also been activated after HM Commander in PoJK, Aijaz met ISI handlers on August 26, and was tasked with infiltrating its cadres across the Gurez sector. Besides, 100 SSG Commandos and Mujahideens have been attached in Leepa, Satpura, Neelum, Iqbal Post, Jumbwa, Shamsbari, Amrohi, Nallah, Abbaspur, Khuiretta, Kaharamaru, Sialkot and Chamm sectors, Jura/Gari Nar posts, Athmuqum and Dudhnial launching detts. These fidayeens are waiting for opening of telecom network in J&K and an opportunity to infiltrate.

News of impending terrorist infiltration in the wake of sinister designs by establishment in Pakistan has the potential of posing a serious challenge to the security dimension of not only India but South Asia in general. Pakistan army has launched pro-Pakistan Taliban cadres in batches to infiltrate Jammu and Kashmir.Pakistan, long viewed as an incubator of religious militancy, is gearing up for a battle over the future of the country's notorious madrassas, religious seminaries accused of breeding radicalism.

Islamist-led protests also threaten to be a fight for the future of the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The stakes for both the government and multiple Islamist and opposition parties and groups are high. Pakistan earlier this month evaded blacklisting by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international anti-money laundering and terrorism finance watchdog.

Maintaining Pakistan on it grey list since June of last year, FATF warned the South Asian nation that it would be blacklisted if it failed to fully implement an agreed plan to halt the flow of funds to militant groups by February of next year when the watchdog holds its next meeting.

A five-party Islamist coalition that demands "true Islamisation" and the establishment of shariah law, led by MaulanaFazlurRehman, the 66-year old head of JamiatUlema-e-Islam and a former member of parliament, organized a countrywide march to capital Islamabad.

The emerging power struggle between Mr Khan and the Islamists is in many ways an effort by the Islamists to force the military that long supported them to choose between them and the prime minister. Mr Khan is believed to have had military support in the electoral campaign that brought the former cricket player to office on a promise to end corruption and improve living standards.

Instead, a persistent economic crisis forced Mr Khan to agree to a USD six billion bailout by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that involves stark austerity measures.Pakistan's ally China, which is locked in a separate decades-old dispute with India over the part of Kashmir called Ladakh, also protested against India for unilaterally changing its status.

"We do not expect other countries, including China, to comment on the matters which are internal to India, just as India refrains from commenting on internal issues of other countries," EAM's spoke persontold a news conference.New Delhi has refrained from any comment on China's policy in remote Xinjiang, refusing to join U.S.-led calls for ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims.

It has also scaled-back top level official contacts with Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in northern India. The diplomatic rift came just days after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held an informal summit in southern India vowing to improve political and economic ties. They also agreed to fight against terrorism and extremism.

In most of the countries of this reason including India and Bangladesh, Pakistan is helping and patronizing terrorist forces. China is taking severe actions against terrorism and extremism in domestic front. On the other hand it is helping Pakistan where terrorism is part and parcel of state mechanism.

India is the largest democratic country having world class institutions. In last seven decades it has solved several problems to develop institutions and strengthen its position politically, socially and economically in the world. We hope J&K will be integrated in the main stream of India protecting its identity as it has been done in case of other states with the help of people of India as well as world community. We have to work together against terrorism and militancy for peace, democracy and progress.


The writer is an academic, former ambassador, leader-student action committee 71 and freedom fighter