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Army men near an encounter site in Kupwara. Tribune file photo

Azhar Qadri

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 8

Despite dying in regular encounters with security forces in recent years, militants in Kashmir have managed to keep insurgency alive by successfully recruiting new members – most of them young and educated.The number of militants operating in the region over the past few years has remained roughly static even as 435 of them died in the last five years, according to the data shared by the Union Home Ministry in its annual report last month.The militant count in Kashmir has fluctuated in the range of 100 and 200 in recent years even as stricter surveillance along the Line of Control has partly contained the flow of foreign elements.The figures indicate that the region’s long insurgency has made a slow resurgence in recent years, relying mostly on local recruits, despite being battered by a swift counter-insurgency campaign which caused its ranks to shrink to double-digits in 2012, the lowest in its history that now spans into the third decade.At present, there are 130 named militants active in the Kashmir valley while the total number is believed to be anywhere around 150 to 170, said Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, SJM Gilani.“The number of people who are infiltrating and the number of people who are (locally) joining is around the same figure (as those dying),” Gilani told The Tribune, referring to the local recruitment of militants and infiltration of foreign militants as reason for the steady number of militants in the region.Gilani said militants are “putting all their efforts” at local recruitment. Last year, when 108 militants were killed in various gunfights along the Line of Control and in the interiors of the Valley, 72 local youth had joined militant ranks and provided it the sufficient manpower to keep it going.The maximum militant recruits have come from five police districts that constitute south Kashmir, the ground zero of new-age militants and the electoral stronghold of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party. In 2015, 59 of the 72 new recruits had come from south Kashmir.In a pattern that has emerged in south Kashmir districts, new recruits quickly substitute for the dead militants. In February 2015, Shabir Ahmad Mir and Idrees Shah were killed in a gun battle in the picturesque Tral sub-district of south Kashmir and a fortnight later Ishaq Parray, a meritorious student, and Saleh Mohammad joined the militant ranks.In April that year, a militant was killed in a forest near Tral and the next day Sabzar Ahmad and Shakir Ahmad joined the militant underground.The trend even dates back to summer of 2013 when a militant commander Shabir Ahmad Bhat and his associates Shahnawaz Mir and Aijaz Ahmad were killed in a fierce gunfight in south Kashmir. Bhat and his two associates were among the 67 militants killed in various gunfights with the security forces in the region that year.Within days of the encounter, a new set of recruits — among them Aqib Bhat, a resident of the slain commander’s village, and engineering student Zakir Rashid — had left their homes and joined the underground network in a trend that has become a signature style of militant recruitment.

Tracking terror

• The number of militants operating in the region over the past few years has remained roughly static even as 435 of them died in the last five years
• The militant count in Kashmir has fluctuated between 100 and 200 in recent years. At present, there are 130 named militants active in Kashmir while the total
• umber is anywhere around 150 to 170
• Last year, 108 militants were killed in gunfights in the Valley, while 72 local youths joined militancy, providing it sufficient manpower to keep it going

US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter’s visit had promised more than it delivered. Or so it appears from the publicly released outcomes of his visit. At the last moment, India appears to have hung back from inking an agreement to allow access to each other’s military bases. But the decade-long magnetism for each other in the security sphere remains undiminished. Plans remain on course to jointly develop an aircraft carrier, a Bill in the US Congress seeks to bring India on a par with NATO in the transfer of sensitive defence technology and equipment while South Block is weighing an American proposal to assemble fighter planes in the country. Defence trade also remains vibrant and Indian orders have helped keep the American military-industrial complex humming.The defence agreements, the proposed legislation and plans to assemble American fighter planes in India add up to a sharp turn in India’s foreign policy. The implications of marching step-in-step with the Americans will resonate far and wide in India’s extended neighbourhood.  Moscow has already sent a warning shot by threatening to stop cooperation in nuclear submarines if the Indian tango with the US gets too intimate. China is already miffed with a US-India joint statement —the honorarium for Barack Obama gracing the Republic Day celebrations — that all but speaks of a lockstep by the two in South China Sea. As a result, Chinese plans for massive investment in India have disappeared in thin air. While the US policymakers are forthcoming on their expectations of a quasi military alliance with India, there is a deafening silence from the Indian side. Parliament should have dissected and analysed the policy implications like the spirited debates that took place on the Indo-US nuclear agreement. The Congress and the BJP are convinced that Western help is indispensible for India to achieve big power status. They differ only on the extent of flexibility in such a partnership.  A public debate and willingness to enlist the public endorsements would only deepen the sustainability of our security policies.

(From left) Arjan Singh Ghotra, Harpal Singh, Kanwar Singh

Washington, April 11

The Pentagon has allowed three more Sikhs to serve in the US armed forces while maintaining their articles of faith such as keeping a beard and wearing a turban — in the fourth such approval in less than a month.The decision, taken on Friday but made public only today, comes days after the soldiers filed a lawsuit against the Department of Defence (DoD), seeking to serve in the US armed forces without being forced to compromise with their articles of faith.Two have been accommodated in the Army National Guard, and one in the US Army Reserve, a media release said.Arjan Singh Ghotra, 17, has been accommodated to serve in the Virginia Army National Guard and will continue his service while attending George Mason University this year.“I will proudly wear my articles of faith with my military uniform,” he said.“I am excited and honoured to have the opportunity to serve my country as an observant Sikh in the Virginia National Guard,” Ghotra said.Kanwar Singh has been accommodated with the Massachusetts Army National Guard, while Harpal Singh, a California telecommunications engineering specialist, will serve in the US Army Reserve through a programme available for non-US citizens with critical foreign language skills.All three are scheduled to attend basic combat training with their respective units this May, according to the release.On March 31, 28-year-old Sikh-American and decorated combat veteran Captain Simratpal Singh became the first active-duty Sikh soldier to receive approval to maintain his articles of faith while actively serving in the US Army.“We commend the US Department of Defence for its decision to allow these soldiers to serve with their religious turbans and beards,” said Sikh Coalition legal director Harsimran Kaur. — PTI

Three Armed Forces veterans deserve a special salute today. One for being a Kargil war hero, the second for bringing public attention to him, and the third for sharing their story widely on social media.

Naik Deep Chand, who lost both legs and his right arm in the 1999 Kargil War, was flying Indigo Airlines recently. As soon as the pilot of the aircraft, Harish Nayani, an ex-IAF fighter pilot himself, learned about this, he made an announcement to the passengers that they had a war hero aboard.

All 180 passengers on the flight got up and gave a resounding round of applause to Naik Deep Chand.

Next, another former Indian Air Force pilot, Rajiv Tyagi, shared this incident on Facebook through a status update that went viral and was picked up by the media. This is what he wrote:

“Harish Nayani, 62nd course, Kilo Squadron, NDA, erstwhile IAF fighter pilot, now a Captain flying for Indigo Airlines, had a war-hero passenger on his flight the other day. Naik Deep Chand, who lost both legs and his right arm in the 1999 Kargil War, was flying Indigo. Harish announced the presence of the war hero on the flight, to the delighted applause of 180 passengers. This is all the recognition war heroes need, for acts no nation can repay them for.”

Our armed forces men and women, and war veterans, do not get enough recognition for their brave and selfless service to the country. In giving Naik Deep Chand, a hero who lost both legs and an arm in the Kargil war, his due recognition, Rajiv Tyagi and Harish Nayani have again reminded us that it is our duty to respect, honour and share stories of their valour with a larger audience.

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 10

Forum for Awareness of National Security held a seminar on “Border management and the role of veterans” here today.Forum head Indresh Kumar said for the social, economic and political development of India, it was essential that its borders were secured from cross-border infiltration and trafficking of humans, drugs, fake currency and weapons.He added that the Indian landmass had about 15,000 km border and 7,500 km coastline.Pakistan, having been defeated in successive wars with India, had resorted to a proxy war and was indulging in terror activities, the latest example being the attack on Pathankot air base.JK Grewal, president, Punjab Chapter of Forum, said retired Army personnel have rich experience and depth of knowledge. No amount of training and technical knowhow could replace their experience. He said the Armed forces were short not only on officers but also on foot soldiers.It would be fortuitous to engage them as a parallel force, in order to make use of their inputs to train and brain storm projects, he added.Anil Joshi, local bodies minister; Lakshmi Kanta Chawla, former state Cabinet minister; ML Kumawat, former DG, BSF; Maj-Gen Dhruv C Katoch and others, also addressed the gathering.

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 6

An Army jawan was killed in a gunfight in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district while foiling an infiltration bid today.The Army said an encounter erupted this morning when a group of militants was intercepted near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kwaja Behak Gujjardori area of the Keran sector, 120 km from Srinagar. “A group of terrorists was intercepted close to the LoC this morning by alert troops. In the ensuing encounter, one soldier was injured. He later succumbed to his injuries,” said an Army spokesman. The slain soldier was identified as Sepoy Ramesh Chand Yadav, a resident of Alwar in Rajasthan.The Army said the operation was underway to track the militants in the dense forest close to the LoC. There was intermittent exchange of fire in the Keran sector during the day.This is the second infiltration attempt foiled by the Army in the Valley this year.The Union Government recently informed Parliament that 18 successful infiltration attempts had taken place in J&K in the first three months of 2016. The government said 24 infiltration attempts had taken place in the first three month, of which 18 turned out to be successful.In 2015, there were 33 successful infiltration attempts.

The braveheart

• Sepoy Ramesh Chand Yadav of Alwar in Rajasthan was killed in a gunfight in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district while foiling an infiltration bid on Friday.
• This is the second infiltration attempt foiled by the Army in the Valley this year.