Counter-terrorism (CT) encompasses a wide range of strategies employed by a state to prevent, counter, and eliminate terrorist threats. This includes military, political, legal, economic, and intelligence-based measures. CT integrates both preventive and reactive approaches, combining direct operations with long-term preventive initiatives.
Operation Sindoor marked a significant tactical military response to the Pahalgam terror attack, showcasing India’s capability for precision strikes against enemy-supported terror networks. However, the challenge remains in achieving sustainable deterrence through non-kinetic actions.
The terrorism landscape in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) is witnessing a rise in locally recruited terrorists, driven by factors such as alienation, unemployment, and online radicalisation. While foreign involvement persists, local groups like The Resistance Front (TRF) and People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF) have come to dominate the scene, often acting as proxies for Pakistan-based organizations.
TRF is believed to be a shadow organization of Lashkar-e-Taiba, emerging in 2019 to present a more indigenous face to terrorism while masking foreign control. Their operations frequently involve targeted killings, propaganda, and online recruitment, classifying them as a hybrid threat.
Localized groups such as TRF and PAFF exploit local grievances and utilize encrypted communication platforms, making intelligence gathering increasingly challenging. Their ability to regenerate despite setbacks underscores the need for sustained community engagement and socio-political reforms.
Factors such as fear of retaliation, loss of trust, and diminished community cooperation have contributed to a decline in HUMINT. This decline hampers the ability to preempt attacks or trace terror leadership within local cells like TRF, PAFF, and others such as the Kashmir Tigers and Lashkar-e-Mustafa.
Despite military operations like Sindoor and the Balakot air strike, data indicates that Pakistan's support for terrorism remains unabated. Terror-related fatalities have even increased post these military actions, highlighting that military solutions alone cannot achieve long-term reductions in terrorism.
To bolster CT goals, India's strategy should incorporate:
These reforms are essential to prevent recruitment by groups like TRF and PAFF.
The term "internalisation of terrorism" in the context of J&K refers to the shift from external infiltration to local participation. When locals either join or support terror groups, controlling the situation through border security alone becomes increasingly difficult, emphasizing the importance of addressing the social dimensions of counter-terrorism.
India's long-term counter-terrorism vision must intertwine kinetic operations with deeper reforms aimed at addressing political exclusion, social alienation, and economic disparities. CT policy should prioritize the principle that 'people are the center of gravity', fostering deterrence through national cohesion and trust. In the words of a renowned strategist, “To win a war against terror, you must first win the trust of those who live in its shadow.”
Kutos : AI Assistant!
