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Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir

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Kashmir : Shown in green is the Kashmiri region under Pakistani control. The dark-brown region represents Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir while the Aksai Chin is under Chinese occupation.

Terrorism in Kashmir has existed in various forms, mainly in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian-controlled side of the disputed territory of Kashmir, which has been the target of a campaign of terrorism and militancy by all sides of the conflict. Thousands of lives have been lost since 1989 due both, to the intensified insurgency and the Indian military. Those dead include civilians, Indian security forces, Kashmiri and non Kashmiri separatist militants.

See also: History of Jammu and Kashmir

Militancy and military

Though there had been instances of sporadi violence in the region for many years, the attacks intensified in the late 1980s, when fighters from Afghanistan slowly infiltrated the region following the end of the Soviet-Afghan War in 1989. [1] Since then, violence has increased significantly in strength. Many separatists have carried out attacks on Indian civilians and Indian military installations in response to what they see as Indian military occupation. [2]

India claims most of the separatist militant groups are based in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir (also known as Azad Kashmir). Some like the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, demand an independent Kashmir. Other groups such as Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed favour a Pakistani-Kashmir. Both the organisations no longer operate under these names after they were banned by the Indian and Pakistani government, and by other countries including the USA and UK. Of the larger militant groups, the Hizbul Mujahideen, a militant organisation based in Indian administered Kashmir, unlike other groups, has only kept its name. [3]. Despite casualties, the militants are still believed to number thousands rather than hundreds. Several new separatist organizations have also emerged. According to US Intelligence, Al-Qaeda also has a main base in Pakistani Kashmir and helping to foment terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.[4] [5]

It is hard to determine the total number of casualties due to the ongoing terrorism in Kashmir. According to a report by the Government of India in the year 2000, 31,000 Indian civilians had lost their lives due to the insurgency. Human rights groups and local NGOs put the total figure at more than 50,000 (2000 figure). [4] Militancy had reached its peak in 1994 when the region saw more than 6,043 terrorist incidents and has since declined. However, Kashmir continues to remain as the most volatile region in the world with an average of 2,500 terrorist incidents every year. [5] According to an Indian estimate in 2005 there were about 2,000 terrorists in the Kashmir valley alone; 1,200 of them belong to the Hizbul Mujahideen.

India claims it is the presence of these numerous anti-India insurgent groups that has compelled New Delhi to deploy massive number of troops in Jammu and Kashmir for the task of counter insurgency. New Delhi has never made an official count, but military analysts estimate that anywhere from 250,000 to nearly 500,000 security personnel are most likely involved, supported by thousands of Indian paramilitary groups such as the Rashtriya rifles, and the Romeo Force. [6] Further consolidating Indian control in Kashmir are hundreds of counter-insurgents known collectively as the Ikhwanis. Made up of former militants, the groups were abandoned by India in the early part of this decade, allowing anti-Indian militants to slowly kill off the Ikhwanis, including the notorious Ikhwani leader, Kukka Parray.

Pakistan claims that this number of military personnel is not needed for such a small group of separatists and that India simply wants control over the entire Kashmir region. In response Pakistan has increased its military personnel in it territory. The region remains as one of the most heavily militarised zones in the world.

Militant groups

India says that over the last two years, a militant group, Lashkar-e-Toiba has split into two factions: Al Mansurin and Al Nasirin. Another new militant group reported to have emerged is the Save Kashmir Movement. Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (formerly known as Harkat-ul-Ansar) and Lashkar-e-Toiba are believed to be operating from Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir and Muridke, Pakistan respectively.[6] Other less well known groups are the Freedom Force and Farzandan-e-Milat. A smaller militant group, Al Badr, has been active in Kashmir for many years and is still believed to be functioning. [7] All Parties Hurriyat Conference, an organisation that uses moderate means to press for the rights of the Kashmiris, is often considered as the mediator between New Delhi and the insurgent groups.

Not much is known about collaboration between the various militant groups, but most say they are members of an alliance known as the United Jihad Council (UJC). [8] The two groups which India says were behind the December 2001 attack on the Indian parliament in New Delhi — known then as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Toiba are believed to be members of the UJC. India says that it was Jaish-e-Mohammed that attacked the Jammu and Kashmir State Assembly in Srinagar in October 2001. [9] It is also known that the Jaish-e-Mohammed was responsible for the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 to Kandahar, which forced the Government of India to release Maulana Masood Azhar, the chief of the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group. [10]

Involvement

According to Indian authorities, Kashmiri militants are sponsored by Pakistan; an allegation which Islamabad strongly denies. However a report by Human Rights Watch group confirms the Indian view stating that "There is compelling evidence that elements of the Pakistani government have sponsored a significant flow of arms to Kashmiri militants, as well as an extensive training program." [11]India claims that there are also other Afghan, Egyptian, Yemeni and Bangladeshi militants active in Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan calls some of these separatist militants as "freedom fighters" and says that it supports their effort for the cause of the Kashmiris only morally. Pakistan however admits that there has been 'cross border infiltration of militants' across the line of controls LOC. In 2002, Pakistani president Parvez Musharraf tried to clamp down on an crossing militants [7] operating from the Pakistan[8]. India, however, claims that Islamabad supports these groups financially and militarily. Many sources have maintained that Pakistan's intelligence organisation, Inter-Service Intelligence, is the main supplier of funds and arms to these groups [12]; a claim that Islamabad has dismissed. The British Government had stated there is a 'clear link' between Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence and three major militant outfits [13] An article The Guardian had uncovered evidence that Pakistani militants were openly raising funds and training new recruits and that the ISI's Kashmir cell was instrumental in funding and controlling the militant outfits. [11]

Indian sources also allege that there are between 2,600 to 3,000 militants receiving training in camps across Pakistan and PoK. During a peace summit between Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Indian former-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in January 2004, Islamabad assured India that it would do everything possible to curb the activities any training camps on its territory. However, violence has continued in Kashmir despite a 3 year long peace process between India and Pakistan. There were as many as 166 terrorist incidents in June 2005 alone in which some 201 people have died. [14]

According to Indian sources there are about 37 "terrorist" training camps in Pakistan, 49 in Azad Kashmir and 22 in Afghanistan.[9] India claims that every year thousands of armed insurgents infiltrate into Indian-administered Kashmir and carry out attacks against Indian Security Forces and Kashmiri civilians. In June 2005, the Indian Army had foiled at least 72 infiltration attempts along the Line of Control in Kashmir.[10] India alleges that despite the commitments made by Pervez Musharraf, Islamabad has done little to stop the terrorist training camps on its soil. According to India, most of the militants in Kashmir come from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Egypt, Yemen and Bangladesh. Not all Kashmiri separatists and militant organizations share the same ideology. Some fight in the name of religion, some are pro-Pakistan and some favour an independent Kashmir. Furthermore, not all the militants are Muslims. Recent reports indicate that a growing minority of the fighters are Hindu militants who have taken up arms for money. They are primarily in these terrorist outfits due to unemployement and a lucrative package. [15]

Pakistan has also alleged India of a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Kashmiri Muslims using state terrorism. It points to human rights figures which show that under the presence of the Indian military starting from the 80's, 70,000 to 120,000 Kashmiris have been killed[citation needed] many that have documented involvement of the military in mass killings. India, however, blames these deaths on the militants or actions which some Indian writers such as J.N. Dixit have called "Internationally understandable in the wake of ground realities."

Human rights violations

Both the militants and Indian security forces are accused of following a policy of ethnic cleansing against the Kashmir populace. Many Kashmiri Muslims and Pandits have been killed in Kashmir over the years. Human rights organisations put the figure of the number killed since the late 80's at 80,000 which includes those killed by Indian security forces. [5] Tens of thousands of Kashmiri Muslims have also emigrated as a result of the violence.

According to official Indian government estimates, 8370 Hindus have also been killed. Kashmiri Pandits displaced, a sect of Hindu pandits, due to the ongoing violence is debated; estimates of the displaced varies from 170,000 to 700,000 [16]. Local politicians have suffered the brunt of aggression.

More than 120 local politicians have lost their lives, 15 of whom were members of Kashmir State Assembly.

Terrorist acts

  • Attack on Jammu & Kashmir State Assembly - A car bomb exploded near the Jammu and Kashmir State Assembly on October 1 2001, killing 27 people on an attack that was blamed on Kashmiri separatists. It was one of the most prominent attacks against India apart from on the Indian Parliament in December 2001. No Kashmiri government official was killed or injured during the incident. [17]
  • Wandhama Massacre - In January 1998, 24 Kashmiri Pandits living in the city Wandhama were killed by Kashmiri Militants. According to the testimony of one of the survivors, the militants dressed themselves as officers of the Indian Army, entered their houses and then started firing blindly. The incident was significant because it coincided with former US president Bill Clinton's visit to India and New Delhi used the massacre to present a case against the alleged Pakistan-supported terrorism in Kashmir. [18]
  • Sangrampora Killings - On March 22 1997, 7 Kashmiri Pandits were killed in Sangrampora village in the Budgam district. [19]
  • On October 1, 2001, a bombing at the Legislative Assembly in Srinagar killed 38. [20]
  • Qasim Nagar Attack - On July 13 2003, armed militants believed to be a part of the Lashkar-e-Toiba threw hand grenades at the Qasim Nagar market in Srinagar and then fired on civilians standing nearby killing twenty-seven and injuring many more. [21]
  • Assassination of Abdul Ghani Lone - Abdul Ghani Lone, a prominent All Party Hurriyat Conference leader, was assassinated by unidentified gunmen during a memorial rally in Srinagar. The assassination resulted in wide-scale demonstrations against the Indian forces for failing to provide enough security cover for Mr. Lone. [21]
  • July 20 2005 Srinagar Bombing - A car bomb exploded near an armoured Indian Army vehicle in the famous Church Lane area in Srinagar killing 4 Indian Army personnel, one civilian and the suicide bomber. Militant group Hizbul Mujahideen, claimed responsibility for the attack. [22]
  • Budshah Chowk attack - A militant attack on July 29, 2005 at Srinigar's city centre, Budshah Chowk, killed 2 and left more than 17 people injured. Most of those injured were media journalists. [23]
  • Murder of Ghulam Nabi Lone - On October 18, 2005 suspected Kashmiri militants killed Jammu and Kashmir's then education minister Ghulam Nabi Lone. Militant group called Al Mansurin claimed responsibility for the attack. [24]
  • On May 3 2006 militants massacred 35 Hindus in Doda and Udhampur districts in Jammu and Kashmir. [25]

Human rights violations

Both sides in the conflict have been accused of human rights violations which have been denied. Pakistan, several Kashmiri organizations and human rights groups such as Human Rights Watch have blamed Indian Security Forces for occurrences of human rights abuses in the state. India denies the allegations and claims that, except a few incidents, most of the crimes and atrocities against Kashmiris are committed by the militants.

The districts of Baramulla and Anantnag in the Kashmir Valley, are the worst affected. India claims that increasing violence in the region has compelled India to deploy more than 250,000 troops in the valley. According to an Indian NGO, every day more than 50 people are abducted by the insurgents in the valley; half of whom are killed. [citation needed] Incidents of rape, kidnapping, looting, rioting, and money laundering have increased since insurgency and military deployment intensified in the 1980's. The Jammu and Kashmir provincial government stated in 2003, that a total of 3,744 people had 'disappeared' since 1989. However, human rights activists put the total figure at more than 8,000. Those who are targeted mainly include women, children and local politicians. [26]

Statistics

The following statistics were published by India's Research and Analysis Wing in 2002: [2]

  • Number of insurgent* camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir: 49
  • Total number of insurgent* camps in Pakistan: 37
  • Number of Kashmiri insurgent* camps in Afghanistan: 22
  • Number of insurgents* operating in Jammu and Kashmir: 3200 (estimate)
  • Number of Kashmiri insurgents* in Indian jails: 125
  • Number of Indian civilians killed by Kashmiri insurgents* since 1988: over 29,000
  • Number of explosions carried out by the insurgents* in India: 4,730
  • Total number of Kashmiri Pandits displaced from the state: over 300,000
  • Amount of explosives recovered from Kashmiri insurgents* in India: 60 tons or 30,000 kg (estimate)
  • Major insurgent* training camps [14]:
Location of major insurgent* camps
Muridke (near Lahore) Punjab, Pakistan
Kotli Pakistan-administered Kashmir
Muzaffarabad Pakistan-administered Kashmir
Skardu Northern Areas, Pakistan
Gultari Northern Areas, Pakistan
Tarkuti Northern Areas, Pakistan
Batrasi North West Frontier Province, Pakistan
Sufaida North West Frontier Province, Pakistan
Tanda Allabyar Sindh, Pakistan

(*NB: In the original Indian government report, insurgents are described as "terrorists" )

Recent developments

File:Peacetime.gif
The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service has helped ease tensions between India and Pakistan. Shown here is India's Chief of Army Staff General J.J. Singh reviewing the construction of a bridge linking Srinagar and Muzaffarabad.

Violent activities in the region declined in 2004. There are two main reasons for this: warming of relations between New Delhi and Pakistan which consequently lead to a ceasefire between the two countries in 2003 and the fencing of the LOC being carried out by the Indian Army. Moreover, coming under intense international pressure, Islamabad was compelled to take actions against the militant's training camps on its territory. In 2004, the two countries also agreed upon decreasing the number of troops present in the region.

Under pressure, Kashmiri militant organisations have made an offer for talks and negotiations with New Delhi, something which India has rightfully welcomed with both hands.

India's Border Security Force blamed the Pakistani military for providing cover-fire for the militants whenever they infiltrated into Indian territory from Pakistan. However, ever since ceasefire has come into action, the militants get no back-up from Pakistani Military which has contributed significantly to the decline in cross-border terrorism in the state.

In a recent development, Pakistan's interior minister, Sheikh Rashid, was alleged to have run a militant training camp in N.W. Frontier, Pakistan. Islamabad dismissed the charges against its minister as an attempt to hamper the ongoing peace process between the two neighbours.

Both India and Pakistan have launched several mutual confidence-building measures (CBMs) to ease tensions between the two. These include, more high-level talks, easing visa restrictions, restarting of cricket matches between the two. The new bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad has also helped bring the two sides closer. Pakistan and India have also decided to co-operate on economic fronts.

A major clash between Indian Security Forces and militants occurred when a group of insurgents tried to infiltrate into the Indian-administered Kashmir from Pakistan in July 2005. The same month, also saw Kashmiri terrorist attack on Ayodhya and Srinagar. However, these developments had little impact on the peace process. . Both countries hope that the present amicability will lead to a solution acceptable to all sides. The mood on both sides of the border finally seems to be moving beyond a half-century of confrontations and the prospects of lasting peace have never been better.

Re-evaluation

The insurgents who initially started their movement as a pro-Kashmiri independence movement, have gone through a lot of change in their ideology. Most of the insurgents potray their struggle as a religious one.

Indian analysts allege that by supporting these insurgents, Pakistan is trying to wage a proxy war against India while Pakistan claims that it regards most of these insurgent groups as "freedom fighters" rather than militants

Internationally known to be the most deadly theatre of conflict, nearly 10 million people, including Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists have been fighting a daily battle for survival. The cross-border firing between India and Pakistan, and the terrorist attacks combined have taken its toll on the Kashmiris, who have suffered poor living standards and an erosion of human rights.

Films and Books

Indian Films

  • Mission Kashmir — by Vidhu Vinod Chopra; focuses on the mental state of a Kashmiri militant.
  • Roja — is a movie about a civilian taken hostage by insurgents in Kashmir.
  • The Hero — Sunny Deol plays the role of an Indian spy whose aim is to stop a Kashmiri insurgent group from obtaining nuclear bombs.
  • Dil Se — The clash between love and ideology is portrayed in this love story between a radio executive and a beautiful suicide bomber; starring Shah Rukh Khan and Manisha Koirala.
  • Sheen — Based on the plight of Kashmiri Pandits or Hindus, made homeless refugees in their own state by the insurgents.
  • Kashmeer — by Suhail Tatari; revolves around the relationship between a Muslim girl and a Hindu boy residing in the troubled Kashmir region.
  • Zameen — by Rohit Shetty; based on the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814 by Kashmiri militants
  • Yahaan — A love story of an idealistic Indian army soldier and a local Kashmiri girl.

Books

References

  1. ^ "Kashmir insurgency Timeline".
  2. ^ a b "Facts on Kashmiri Terrorism".
  3. ^ "Information regarding militants international links".
  4. ^ "Information on the terroist camps in Pakistan".
  5. ^ a b "The surrogate war in Kashmir".
  6. ^ [1], [2], [3] Multiple sources for the number of Indian counter-insurgency troops in the region
  7. ^ "List of terrorist organisations".
  8. ^ "Info regarding UJC and its members".
  9. ^ "Article on Indian Parliament Attack".
  10. ^ "IC 814 Hijacking".
  11. ^ a b "Introduction to Kashmir conflict". Cite error: The named reference "Guardian" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  12. ^ ""Directorate for ISI" article on FAS, Intelligence Resource Program".
  13. ^ "Information regarding links between ISI and militants".
  14. ^ a b "July 22, 2005 edition of the Hindustan Times newspaper - report by journalist Nilova Roy Chaudhury".
  15. ^ "Kashmir's new headache: Hindu militants".
  16. ^ Alexander Evans, A departure from history: Kashmiri Pandits, 1990–2001, Contemporary South Asia (Volume 11, Number 1, 1 March 2002, pp. 19-37)
  17. ^ "J&K state assembly attack".
  18. ^ "Wandhama Massacre report".
  19. ^ "Sangrampora killings".
  20. ^ Dugger, Celia (2001, October 9). "Pakistan Asks India to Revive Talks Aimed at Bringing Peace to Kashmir". The New York Times. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ a b "Human Rights Watch World Report 2003: India".
  22. ^ "20 July 2005 Srinagar attack".
  23. ^ "July 29 attack in Srinagar".
  24. ^ "Nabi Lone's assassination".
  25. ^ "Massacre of 35 Hindus in Doda and Udhampur districts of Jammu".
  26. ^ "Amnesty report on Kashmir".

Other references

  1. ^ BBC Timeline on Kashmir conflict.
  2. ^ Lashkar-e-toiba's profile
  3. ^ List of terrorist attacks in Kashmir
  4. ^ Article on Nadimarg killings
  5. ^ Amarnath killings report
  6. ^ Plight of Kashmiri Pundits
  7. ^ Schofield, Victoria. 'Kashmir: The origins of the dispute', BBC News UK Edition (January 16 2002) Retrieved May 20 2005
  8. ^ HT story - Kashmiri militants warn against return of Pandits

See also

Related articles
Militant groups
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