New ceasefire norms

By Atul Aneja

NEW DELHI, FEB. 23. In seeking to enforce the Kashmir ceasefire for the next three months, the Army has modified its plans to separate the pan- Islamic jehadis from the local militants and their supporters.

Highly placed sources in the Government here point out that a directive for adopting a sterner disposition towards the foreign militants while holding offensive operations against local militants has been issued. This move is meant to enable the security forces to launch selective operations against groups such as the Laskhar-e-Taiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammad. Restraint will continue to be exercised vis-a-vis the local militants and their supporters in the valley. To facilitate this, the cooperation of the Hurriyat Conference leaders in restraining their supporters from carrying weapons may become necessary.

Sources pointed out that the continuation of high profile militancy by the jehadi groups has forced the Army to consider a more muscular response against them. Operations against foreign militants will be launched on the basis of ``hard intelligence.''

The recent outpouring of Kashmiris on the streets has prodded the security forces to reconsider its tactics towards the local militants and there supporters. The Army now wants to go the extra mile to mend civil-military relations.

New confidence-building measures

In order to improve ties with the locals, it proposes to adopt new confidence building measures. For instance, the security forces will now be required to adhere to a better standard of human rights practices. Preventing custodial death has especially become urgent and indispensable.

The Army, in order to enforce its plans, is looking for better coordination with the para-military forces and the police. It is felt custodial deaths can be avoided only if the activities of all sections of the security forces, including the Jammu and Kashmir police, who detain militants are made transparent and monitored more strictly.

Greater emphasis on preventing deaths in captivity is being laid as the killing in custody of Mr. Jalil Ahmad triggered recent street demonstrations and subsequent firing in Kashmir. Mr. Ahmad was reportedly picked up by the Special Operations Group of the Jammu and Kashmir police. The emotional response to the killing, according to one assessment, can be attributed to the fact that Mr. Ahmad was an activist of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). Unlike the jehadi groups, the JKLF has considerable following in the valley. The firing on the large crowds further inflamed local Kashmiri passions. The Army, in its recent internal meetings has been one of the principle advocates of the ceasefire extension. For instance, it has pointed out that military posture along the Line of Control after the ceasefire is more relaxed. Firing on the volatile Siachen glacier after the ceasefire initiative is also on hold.

The breather on the border, in turn, has allowed the Army to regroup its forces and reassess its deployments.

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