Lack of political will and strategy

By H.L. Shishoo

Kashmir has emotional significance for every Indian, almost generating infectious enthusiasm, even if it reminds him of India’s political, diplomatic and military incapacity. When the State acceded with Indian Union, the nation was recovering from the wounds of partition and for the great majority of people at that time Kashmir had literally no significance. During the last six decades things have changed and every Indian has given something in one form or the other to build the prosperity in the State. They do realize that accession of Kashmir with India was perhaps the greatest accident in their post-independence history and the decision to send Indian Army to defend the valley, without working out a sound strategy and political formula was an act of individual passion. Nehru used his imposing presence to force his will on the cabinet that mattered, despite serious reservations by some of his colleagues who did not share his emotions and the blind trust in Kashmiri leadership. He deserves least credit for contending stubbornly personal emotions and opinion, because his lack of foresight has imposed crushing burden on the country and the people he loved dearly. Refusing to recognize the hard ideological facts of the times, he carried on with a personal agenda in Kashmir that was entirely his own and provoked a crisis that refuses to cool down. Possibly he was presented a highly imaginative picture and assured of a favorable arrangement by the leadership in Kashmir.

It took India only a couple of years to realize the serious drawbacks in the relation but even after the initial shock it failed to draw a strategy to face the great dangers ahead. Agreed that the initial failure was conditioned by the personal defects of the mind and will of an individual but what followed is highly controversial and baffling. Year after year, India rested with the administrative routine and forgetfulness of all thought of the sensitiveness of the issue and remained contended with buying peace by bribing the political and public morality. Indian leadership could not interpret the situation in Kashmir judiciously and act with confidence by taking the right decision at the right time. Unfortunately, India remained more or less contented with the uncertain political horizons and allowed the political situation to develop in an unmanageable form. Even after understanding the clear limitations, it hoped for the best and allowed the issue to rest on the assurances of apparently friendly but highly uncommitted and corrupt Governments in the State. The essence of the Indian strategy was not to resolve the Kashmir issue politically but circumvent the obstacles for momentary relief under illusionary politics.

Political uncertainty within the State and lack of political will with the central leadership has always been the greatest obstacle in developing a sufficiently formidable strategy. What led to the failure after failure in finding a solution to the real live issues was the absence of bold designs, singleness of aim, boldness of conception and fervor in execution. India has suffered all along with unconquerable optimism and exaggerated confidence that disregarded all obstacles and dangers ahead in dealing with a formidable neighbor hell bent on fermenting trouble. There was always lack of clear vision, undaunted resolution and determination to push ahead with a reasonable political solution in the troubled State of Kashmir. The central leadership continues to indulge in acts that are negative in substance even at a time when it is too late to retrieve the past follies by creating a delusion that it is a step away from peace and solution in Kashmir. Even the strongest desire for peace may have to find a possible constructive solution that may meet the local demands without complete severance. But, to achieve that end half-heartedness, hesitation and feebleness of purpose will be the greatest obstacles.

Pakistan had served notice way back in 1965 that it had no intention of resting within the conventional methods of war to seek a permanent solution in Kashmir. The highly ambitious infiltration bid in the valley during the period, to create internal unrest, should have served sufficient warning to the military strategists to prepare a strategy that could be put into action in times when normal fighting rules would become ineffective. They should have known that the tactics adopted to meet the conflict on the borders and internal unrest were not sufficient to counter the guerrilla warfare intelligently planned and executed, from across the border without entering into open conflict. They could have executed plans, in advance to create special units well trained and highly disciplined besides psychologically and mentally strong to act during the times of gravest crisis. Militancy that draws strength from daredevil acts besides elusive raids and escapes has revealed a great cleavage between the military operations, planning and training, as they fall short of expectations. Flushing out even a lone militant from his hide out brings to fore the pent up frustration of the security forces and to a great extent the loss of innocent lives during a sudden operation must be attributed to insufficient training, methods and psychological build up.

What we are witnessing now is the lack of strategical and tactical insight, the serious indifference to physical, mental and psychological characteristics, failure of intelligence and poor counterintelligence. The psychological deficiencies among the officers and the men under them witnessed during unusual stress and the panicky reaction thereof overshadows the fighting capability of men and even if they are led with courage and fight gallantly, the results are sure to raise serious questions. Circumstances do favor the insurgents for many reasons, including the support extended by the local people out of coercion or greed but strategically results secured by the trained forces are disheartening, taking into account the losses suffered by them including innocent civilians.

In India facts are generally suppressed about armed forces but past experiences raise serious doubts about the methods used for raising the fighting standards of men who have to work under abnormal conditions of warfare. May be in present times Army is also attracting improvident out of work and even misfit people with minimum physical and mental standards and they carry a serious handicap during the counter insurgency operations. Many among them cannot stand the acute stress of unconventional warfare, as in recent times there have been alarming instances of deaths within the ranks out of frustration and acute mental stress including revenge killings. There is a tradition of sharing meals on ceremonial occasions by the senior ranking officers with the Jawans but I am not aware if meetings are ever held where the Brigadiers and generals instead of talking listen to the ranks down under and take serious note of the fighting soldiers mind set, his basic requirements and minimum needs.

Instead of generating an ingenious and plausible strategy to tackle the political unrest, Government of India is pushing the army into a new role that may be the part of the strategy adopted by an occupation army to seek legitimacy but not of a politically non-committed army even in difficult times. The soldier is sure to be baffled, bewildered, distracted, disheartened and even unnerved by the new responsibility thrust upon him by the politicians who are possibly shirking from the great responsibility of finding a political solution to an issue of overwhelming difficulty. There is no conceivable reason for the Government to involve the commanders to see-off pilgrims, to receive people returning from pilgrimages and throwing parties for them under the pretext of fostering close relationship with the civilian population. Great objects of strategy have never been secured without sacrifice of life or by injecting the army with a dose of political medicine. No intelligent person will agree that such mistaken view can influence the coerced people who have barred and bolted their conscience.

The great underlining drawback of our political system that is now embedded in our national character is that the men in power are least prepared to think, leave alone act, about an unusual situation unless pushed to the wall to do so and that only to the extent to diffuse immediate crisis. Kashmir is a highly sensitive issue and once a clear strategy is formed, only political remedy can cure it. India needs to draw a policy of reconstruction broad enough, bold enough and strong enough to see the nation through the crisis without wobbling and dithering. Let it dawn on the Indian politicians that even if Kashmir issue is pacified by a solution, our neighbor has grander designs to destabilize the country. Militancy has dispersed to a wider area with sinister interests and the great challenge before the Government in New Delhi is to find a reasonable political solution in Kashmir and concentrate vigorously on modernizing and upgrading the security forces and increase their fighting capability by revitalizing their mental and psychological ingredients.

(Originally published in the Kashmir Times on January 8, 2007)

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