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Terrorism in Kashmir

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Jammu and Kashmir has been the target of a campaign of terrorism propagated against India, Hindus (see Kashmiri Pandits) and Sufis by proponents of Kashmiri independance, pro-Pakistani and anti-Indian insurgents since 1989. Thousands of lives have been lost since insurgency began to counter Indian occupation of Kashmir. Those dead include civilians, Indian Security Forces, and Kashmiri militants.

Contents

4 Major terrorist acts

4.1 Terrorist acts in Jammu and Kashmir
4.2 Terrorist activities elsewhere
4.3 Human rights violation

5 Statistics

6 Recent peace efforts

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Background

The Disputed Territory

Jammu and Kashmir, was a principality lying between the two new nations that were formed by the partition of United Kingdom's colonies on the Indian subcontinent when they gained independence in August 1947. The 565 principalities formed 40% of India's land area and held 100 million people. Each prince had to decide which of the two new nations to join: The Republic of India or Pakistan (which then included East Pakistan, now known as Bangladesh). The ruler of Jammu and Kashmir could not decide which to join. He was Hindu, as was most of India, while his subjects were predominantly Muslim, like Pakistan. To avoid the decision, he signed a "standstill" agreement with Pakistan, which ensured continuity of trade, travel, communication, and similar services. India did not sign a similar agreement.

Kashmir was invaded by Pashtuns from Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province in October 1947. The invasion caused widespread looting and human rights abuses in the state. Troubled by the increasing deterioration in law and order, and by earlier raids, culminating in the invasion of the tribesmen, Maharaja Hari Singh, the ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, requested armed assistance from India. The incumbent Governor-General, Lord Mountbatten favoured Kashmir's temporary accession to the Republic of India, to which the Maharaja agreed. The Instrument of Accession afforded India's jurisdiction over external affairs, defence and communications.

Hari Singh fled to Jammu on October 26 1947 and signed the Instrument of Accession to India. On the morning of October 27, Indian troops were airlifted into Srinagar. A furious Pakistan government immediately contested the accession, suggesting that it was fraudulent, that the Maharaja acted under duress, and that he had no right to sign an agreement with India when the standstill agreement with Pakistan was still in force.

In 1949 the Indian government obliged Hari Singh to leave Jammu and Kashmir, and yield the government to Sheikh Abdullah, the leader of the popular political party, the National Conference Party.

Since then, a bitter enemity has been developed between India and Pakistan and three wars have taken place between them over Kashmir. The growing dispute over Kashmir also lead to the rise of terrorism in the state. The year 1989 saw the intensification of terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. However, what started as essentially an indigenous popular uprising in Indian-administered Kashmir, has undergone drastic changes in the last decade.

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Kashmir flashpoint

Indian Air Force helicopter takes off to patrol Indian-administered Kashmir.

Since it began in the late 1980s, armed militancy has increased significantly in strength. Despite a large number of casualties, the militants are still believed to number thousands rather than hundreds. Several new militant groups have also emerged. Most of these have separatist views and many have carried out audacious attacks on Indian military installations in response to Indian military occupation.^{[1] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Terrorism_in_Kashmir#endnote_fact)}

Most militant groups are based in Pakistan or Pakistani-controlled Kashmir (also known as Azad Kashmir). Some like the All Party Hurriyat Conference and the JKLF, demand an independent Kashmir. More recently other militant groups such as Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, no longer operate under these names after they were banned by the Indian government, and by several major countries, like the USA, when it was found that these organisations have close ties to Osama bin Laden and international terrorist groups including Al Qaeda,Taliban and Hamas.^{[2] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Terrorism_in_Kashmir#endnote_al)} India says that over the last two years, 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 (SKM). Of the larger militant groups, only the Hizbul Mujahideen, a terrorist organisation based in India unlike other groups, has kept its name. Harkat-ul-Mujaheedin (formerly known as Harkat-ul-Ansar) and Lashkar-e-Toiba are believed to be operating from Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir and Muridke, Pakistan respectively.^{[3] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Terrorism_in_Kashmir#endnote_figure)} 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.^{[4] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Terrorism_in_Kashmir#endnote_name)}

All Party 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 these "terrorist" groups.

It is the presence of these numerous anti-India insurgent groups that has compelled New Delhi to deploy more than 400,000 security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir. The region remains as one of the most heavily militarised zones in the world.

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Waging War

Lashkar-e-Toiba emerged as one of the most prominent groups involved in militant activities in Kashmir. It is alleged to have gained more support because of its role in the 1999 Kargil conflict with India and later on by sending its members on suicide missions to attack military cantonments in different parts of Indian-administered Kashmir.^{[5] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Terrorism_in_Kashmir#endnote_kargil)}

Lashkar's professed ideology went beyond merely challenging Indian rule in Jammu and Kashmir. In a pamphlet entitled "Why Are We Waging Jihad?" the group defined its agenda as the restoration of Islamic rule over all parts of India. It seems that in their view, the restoration of Secularism in India after the collapse of the fundamentalist Islamic rule of the Islamic Mughal Emperor of Aurangzeb was a historic wrong they seek to set right. Terrorism in Kashmir, has now become more of a conflict between the Hindus and the Muslims, than a campaign for the cause of the Kashmiris.^{[6] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Terrorism_in_Kashmir#endnote_jihad)}

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).^{[7] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Terrorism_in_Kashmir#endnote_UJC)}

The two groups which India says were behind the December 2001 attack on the Indian parliament in Delhi—known then as Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Toiba are believed to be members of the UJC. India says that it was Jaish-e-Mohammad that attacked the Jammu and Kashmir State Assembly in Srinagar in October 2002.^{[8] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Terrorism_in_Kashmir#endnote_parliament)} It is also known that the Jaish-e-Muhammad 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-Muhammad terrorist group.^{[9] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Terrorism_in_Kashmir#endnote_814)} Recently, Kashimiri insurgents groups, the Harkat-ul-Ansar and the Lashkar-e-Toiba threatened US citizens in major Pakistani cities.

On the whole, there are more than two dozen active terrorist organisations in Kashmir along with several other smaller militant organisations.

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Allegations

According to Indian authorities, Kashmiri militants are sponsored by Pakistan; something which Islamabad denies. According to Research and Analysis Wing, most of the terrorists operating in the region are of Pakistani and Indian nationality. There are also several other Afghan, Egyptian, Yemeni and Bangladeshi militants active in Jammu and Kashmir.

Not all Kashmiri militants share the same ideology. Some are pro-pakistan while some are pro-independence. Some fight in the name of religion, some in the name of Pakistan and some in the name of Kashmir. But they all have one thing in common; they are anti-India.

Pakistan calls some these militant organization "freedom fighters" and says that it supports their effort for the cause of the Kashmiris only politically, diplomatically and morally. India, however, claims that Islamabad supports these groups financially and militarily and, at International conferences, it has often referred to "cross-border terrorism" and alleged they are being carried out by Pakistan. New Delhi has been trying to convince the international community that Pakistan's intelligence organisation, ISI (Inter-Service Intelligence), is the main supplier of funds and arms to these "insurgents"; a claim that Pakistan has dismissed as rubbish.^{[10] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Terrorism_in_Kashmir#endnote_ISI)}

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Major terrorist acts

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Terrorist acts in Jammu and Kashmir

Attack on Jammu & Kashmir State Assembly: A car bomb exploded near the Jammu and Kashmir State Assembly on October 1 2001, killing 27 people. It was one of the most prominent attacks against India apart from on the Indian Parliament in December 2001. The attack was largely seen as one against the democracy in Kashmir. No Kashmiri government official was killed or injured during the incident.

The Hindu temple in Wandhama after it was desecrated and destroyed by the terrorists.

Wandhama Massacre: In January 1998, 24 Kashmiri Pandits living in the Indian 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 Pakistan-supported terrorism in Kashmir.^{[11] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Terrorism_in_Kashmir#endnote_Wandhama)}

Sangrampora Killings: On March 22 1997, 7 Kashmiri Pandits were killed in Sangrampora village in the Bulgam district.^{[12] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Terrorism_in_Kashmir#endnote_Sangrampora)}

Parankot Killings: 26 Kashmiri Pandits were massacred in Parankot in the Udhampur district on April 21 1998.^{[13] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Terrorism_in_Kashmir#endnote_target)}

Nadimarg Massacre: On March 23 2003, 24 Kashmiri Pandits were killed in Nadimarg village in the Pulwaa district.^{[14] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Terrorism_in_Kashmir#endnote_Nadimarg)}

The incidents mentioned above depict only a few of the attacks made by insurgents against Kashmiri civilians. Kashmiri militants are alleged to be following a policy of ethnic cleansing. According to estimates more than 300,000 Kashmiri Pandits or Hindus have been displaced because of the terrorist activities against them.^{[15] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Terrorism_in_Kashmir#endnote_fact)} In 1941, more than 15% of Kashmiri population consisted of Hindus. Now it has decreased to less than 1%.^{[16] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Terrorism_in_Kashmir#endnote_Ethnic)} It is not only the Kashmiri pundits who have suffered in ongoing insurgency, many Muslims have also been killed in Kashmir over the years. According to Indian government estimates, 6880 Kashmiri muslims have been killed from 1989 to 1998 compared to 8370 Hindus, although most human rights organisations put the figure of the number killed since the late 80's at 70,000, the Indian government does not count the civilians killed by its own security forces in its official figures.

Militants have also targeted Hindu pilgrims visiting Hindu shrines of Amarnath and Vaishno Devi in the state.^{[17] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Terrorism_in_Kashmir#endnote_Amarnath)}

Local politicians have suffered the brunt of aggression being carried out by the terrorists. More than 120 local politicians have lost their lives, 15 of whom were members of Kashmir State Assembly.

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Terrorist activities elsewhere

The attack on the Indian Parliament was by far the most prominent attack carried out Kashmiri militants outside Kashmir. India blamed Pakistan for carrying out the attacks, which brought both nations to the brink of a nuclear confrontation in 2001-02. However, international peace efforts ensured the cooling of tensions between the two nuclear-powered nations.

Apart from this, the most notable was the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 en route New Delhi from Kathmandu, Nepal. The plane was hijacked approximately 1 hour after take off and was taken to Amritsar airport and then to Lahore in Pakistan. After refueling the plane took off for Dubai and then finally landed in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Under intense media pressure, New Delhi complied to the hijackers' demand and freed Maulana Masood Azhar from his captivity in return for the freedom of the Indian passengers on the flight. The decision, however, cost New Delhi dearly. Maulana, who is believed to be hiding in Karachi, later became the leader of Jaish-e-Muhammad, an organisation which has carried out several terrorist acts against Indian Security Forces in Kashmir.^{[18] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Terrorism_in_Kashmir#endnote_814)}

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Human rights violation

Islamabad and Kashmiri insurgents have constantly blamed Indian Security Forces for human rights abuses in the state. India counters that the allegations are baseless and argues that, except a few incidents, most of the crimes and attrocities against Kashmiris are done by the insurgents. India also contends that there are more cases of human rights abuses in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir than in Indian-administered Kashmir. A recent Amnesty International report agrees with the Indian government's claim. According to the report, neither India nor its security forces are to be blamed for the detoriating human rights situation in Kashmir.^{[19] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Terrorism_in_Kashmir#endnote_Amnesty)}

The districts of Baramulla and Anantnag in the Kashmir Valley, are the worst affected. The increasing violence in the region has compelled India to deploy more than 250,000 troops in the valley. In spite of increased vigilance, the Indian Army is unable to control the crime rate in the region. According to an Indian NGO, every day more than 50 people are abducted by the insurgents in the valley; half of the abductees are killed. Incidents of rape, kidnapping, looting, rioting, and hawala (the informal money transfer system often associated with money laundering) have increased since insurgency 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.^{[20] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Terrorism_in_Kashmir#endnote_Amnesty)}

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Statistics

The following statistics were published by Research and Analysis Wing in 2002:^{[21] (http://www.biocrawler.com/encyclopedia/Terrorism_in_Kashmir#endnote_fact)}

Number of terrorist camps in Pakistan occupied Kashmir: 49
Total number of terrorist camps in Pakistan: 86
Number of terrorists operating in Jammu and Kashmir: 3200 (estimate)
Number of Kashmiri militants killed by Indian security forces: 291
Number of Kashmiri terrorists in Indian jails: 125
Number of Indian civilians killed by Kashmiri terrorists since 1988: over 29,000
Number of explosions carried out by the terrorists in India: 4,730
Total number of Kashmiri Pandits displaced from the state: over 300,000
Amount of explosives recovered from Kashmiri terrorists in India: 60 tons or 30,000 kg (estimate)

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Recent peace efforts

Terrorist activates 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 2 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 soil. 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 by both hands. India's Border Security Force blamed the Pakistani military for cover-firing 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. The increased vigilance of the Indian Army, in recent months, has also helped eliminate several of the terrorists. In a recent survey, Indian Security Forces had foiled 1243 terrorist attempts for the year 2003-04 in the Kashmir valley alone. New Delhi has also taken several measures to improve its image among the Kashmiri public. State elections in 2003 and the recent bus service between Azad Kashmir and Jammu and Kashmir are a few examples. Apart from these, several other Confidence Building Measures (CBM's) have been undertaken by both India and Pakistan. Restarting of Cricket matches between India and Pakistan has also helped bring the two countries closer. Recently, a prominent member of the Hurriyat Conference alleged Pakistan's interior minister to have run a terrorist camp in Azad Kashmir. Pakistani government, however, charged the allegation as an attempt to disrupt the ongoing peace process between the two countries.

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Possible solutions

The best way to end present terrorism in Kashmir is negotiations between Militant groups, Pakistan and India. Here are a few possible solutions to the Kashmir dispute -

The Status quo - Currently a boundary - the Line of Control (LOC)- divides the region in two, with one part administered by India and one by Pakistan. India would like to formalise this status quo and make it the accepted international boundary. Factors Opposing - Both Pakistan and Kashmiri militants reject the plan as they aim to get greater control over ther region.

Entire Kashmir under Pakistani control - Pakistan will love to have full control over Jammu and Kashmir. It will be the fulfilment of its long standing demand. Factors Opposing - Though the Muslims in Kashmir might agree to such a proposal, the Hindus of Jammu and the Buddhists of Ladakh would object the outcome.

Kashmir becomes a part of India - Though New Delhi would have no objections to such a plan, the muslims in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir have never shown any desire to join India.

Jammu and Kashmir becomes independent - Most of the Kashmiris will support the outcome and region will also be economically viable with tourism being the biggest source of income. Factors Opposing - The outcome is unlikely because it requires both India and Pakistan to give up territories.

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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. The insurgents use religion as a topic to back their campaign. In this entire process, the main core issue of establishing the will and the welfare of the Kashmiris seems to be lost.

Indian analysts say that by supporting these insurgents, Pakistan is trying to wage a Proxy-War against New Delhi while Islamabad claims that it regards these insurgents as freedom fighters rather than militants.

Internationally known to be the most deadly theatre of conflict nearly 50 million moderate 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 by losing their economic growth and human rights in the process. Kashmir was once known as the Paradise on Earth. Today, its called The Burning Paradise.

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References

^ Facts on Kashmiri Terrorism (http://www.stephen-knapp.com/facts_on_the_pakistani_terrorism_against_kashmir.htm)
^ Information regarding militants international links (http://www.armyinkashmir.org/v2/articles/art_strategy.shtml)
^ List of terrorist organisations (http://www.solcomhouse.com/terrorists.htm)
^ Lashkar-e-toiba's profile (http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=66)
^ Info regarding UJC and its members (http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/mjc.htm)
^ Article on Indian Parliament Attack (http://www2.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-08/31/content_259902.htm)
^ IC 814 Hijacking (http://meaindia.nic.in/speech/2000/01/060100spc01.htm)
^ Information regarding links between ISI and militants (http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/jun/11war4.htm)
^ Amnesty report on Kashmir (http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=83727&cat=India)
^ Wandhama Massacre report (http://www.subcontinent.com/sapra/terrorism/tr_1998_01_002_s.html)
^ Sangrampora killings (http://www.kashmiri-pandit.org/atrocities/sangrampura.html)
^ List of terrorist attacks in Kashmir (http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/apr/26ariban.htm)
^ Article on Nadimarg killings (http://www.countercurrents.org/kashmir-raman7403.htm)
^ Amarnath killings report (http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/aug/06jk.htm)
^ Plight of Kashmiri Pundits (http://www.the-south-asian.com/Nov2001/Kashmiri_Pandits.htm)
Indiainfo.com : Kashmir Terrorism (http://news.indiainfo.com/spotlight/jammuandkashmir/)
CNN.com archive : Kashmir (http://search.cnn.com/pages/search.jsp?query=Kashmir+terror&sortby=Score)
Kashmir Story (http://ikashmir.org/...ashmirStory/chapter6.html)
^ Schofield, Victoria. 'Kashmir: The origins of the dispute', BBC News UK Edition (January 16 2002) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/1762146.stm) Retrieved May 20 2005