Combating insurgency

PAKISTAN'S INSURGENCY VS INDIA'S SECURITY: Sudhir S. Bloeria; Manas Publications, 4819/X1, Varun House, Mathur Lane, 24, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi-110002. Rs. 795.

THE AUTHOR, a retired IAS officer who had extensive experience at the various district and secretariat levels of Jammu and Kashmir, has covered his first-hand experiences as Special Commissioner of Rajouri, Poonch during the years 1990-91. After the outbreak of insurgency in 1990, the author had the first hand experience of restoring and revitalising the administration in the sensitive border districts with a wide encompassing mandate given by the State Government.

This first-hand account graphically describes the problems of coordination between the civic administration, the para military forces and the army which had an overwhelming presence. It is reassuring to know that in spite of vague directions from the state level, the personalities, in a sensitive border division could work out a common strategy to tackle the entire gamut of problems relating to infiltration, village defence screening and recovery operations. It is evident that the ground action involving both the civic administration and the security forces requires innovative thinking for each situation and there is no room for die-hard steam rolling tactics.

The author has brought out some very interesting approaches to the screening of the border districts, isolation of the militant groups and the system of village defence using the local population. More than that, his efforts to rebuild communications, medical set-ups and restoration of credibility in the fields of social welfare are worthy of emulation. Other administrators who are posted in such sensitive areas of the North and the East will be able to appreciate the efforts of the author who relied more on persuasion and motivation to galvanise the various district officials and their subordinates. It also brings out the interesting conclusion that the resources available to the state administration are ample but it is only the lack of will in the implementation which causes wastage, incomplete work and non-utilisation of funds.

Brig A. THYAGARAJAN (Retd.)

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