The terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is three decades old, although the first terrorist group started its activities way back in 1965. However, in 1987, as the Soviets started exiting Afganistan, the Mujaheeds so deeply nurtured and integrated in the State of Pakistan suddenly became a threat.
The external actors riding on the alleged rigging of elections inthe Centre and in the state suddenly found a fertile ground in the Valley to sow the seeds of Terrorism. With the passage of time, the terrorism was almost reduced to zero by the efforts of security forces and the local populace in 2006. But various proxy agents driven by Pakistan infamously termed as the ‘NEXUS’ found it difficult to acquire wealth and power if peace returned to valley. Thus, they wanted this conflict to go on and prepared the base to push the youth towards an uprising in 2008. Since then, the space for constructive engagement of youth has constantly shrinked and more young educated people started to join the Terrorist Tanzeems. This trend continues till date.
Jihad Misunderstood
What is more worrying is the misconception about the “Jihad”. Pakistan and its agencies are continuously trying to change the narrative of a territorial dispute with religion. The young agitated minds fall prey to this narrative and believe that they are fighting a holy war, which is totally misleading. Since 2008, hundreds of young educated boys have joined the terrorist ranks, neutralized by security forces and have left many families shattered. Distrust in the valley had reached its limit and at a point in time, it seemed that everyone was involved in promoting and continuing terrorism. In many instances, Kashmiri youth felt harassed and oppressed by perceived atrocities of security apparatus, forcing many of them to pick up the gun.
Kashmiri youth who have been under lockdown since 2008, have grown up in the times of violence and crisis. As per the govt records more than 41000 deaths occurred in Valley since 1987, an average of 4 deaths per day. This has affected the growing up experience of young people and the youth have fallen prey to promoters of hate and violence. One of the astonishing facts about the terrorist in Kashmir, according to official records, is that barely 2% of terrorist are from religious schools or Madrassas while majority of them are regular school going boys.
So, one needs to think that how come the youth is being lured towards terrorism and who are responsible for it. How can a PHD scholar be radicalized enough to leave a stable life and join terrorist group, leaving everything behind? One can only imagine the potential of such conflict managers who handles the reins of the conflict from across the border. The Pakistani ISI has created a separate wing of social media handlers who only look after Kashmir and always post the stuff on internet that provoke Muslim youth. Their only work is to trap the minds of young Kashmiris and use them to destabilize not just Jammu and Kashmir but rest of India.
US-Taliban Dynamics
Taliban-US peace deal has created another concern. Talibani terrorists which have been fighting for more than forty years have suddenly came to a stand-still. Since they have nothing to do and can’t do anything except for gun battle, thisis used by Pakistan to instigate further terrorism in Valley. The recently killed foreign terrorist in Shopian proves the fact that Pakistan as always, wants to disturb the peace and harmony.
What is more concerning is the fact that nobody is willing to stop this madness. Mass leaders, religious scholars, teachers, social influencers have always remained quiet, even when their contribution in combating and controlling the situation is most needed.
The people of Kashmir need to understand that the gun has yielded nothing in past thirty years except for devastation, killings and economic loss. Our education sector has been worst hit. This, in turn, will have harsh repercussions on our future. Kashmiris need to stop this madness and help the youth in building the society and the nation. Now,it is up to our societal pillars to take the new generation towards the path of progress and success. Government, both at centre and state are leaving no stone unturned to provide opportunities to the people of state, so that they can forget the bloody conflict of last 30 years and move ahead.
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