Page 12 - The Indian EYE 071522

OPINION JULY 08, 2022 | The Indian Eye 12

dents and the involvement of terror
outfits in carrying out each one of
those, two things need to be looked
at – the nature of the incidents and
those owing responsibility for them.
A look at the timeline of the inci-
dents is crucial in this respect.
While not exhaustive, the table
lists major incidents of targeted kill-
ings that followed the abrogation of
Article 370. Majority of victims are
identified as Kashmiri Pandits, a
Sikh, and Hindu migrant labourer.
A number of Muslim civilians too
have become targets of these out-
fits. However, it is notable that most
of these targeted killings involving
Muslim victims, Kashmiri or other-
wise, carry some political motiva-
tions. For instance, they belonged to Jammu and Kashmir Police recovered the arms and ammunition from the possession of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists after being apprehend-
the local BJP cadres, or Sarpanches, ed by the villagers, at Tukson Dhok in Reasi on Sunday. (ANI Photo)
or were working for the government.
This made them ‘stooges’ of the gov-
ernment and hence were targeted. The targeted killings reflect motiva- indeed experienced a gradual shift. ternal actors and interests involved.
Non-Muslim victims like migrant tions of these outfit to hamper reha- The 2016 Uri attack and 2019 Pulwa- The idea also appears to target sec-
workers or school principals and bilitation efforts of Pandits. The en ma attack only further strengthened tions of the national population who
bank employees, though, have often masse withdrawal of Kashmiri Pan- India’s case before the international might be possibly influenced by calls
been singled out for their communal dits following the murder of Vijay community. for ‘justice’ and ‘freedom’ as opposed
identity. Kumar on June 2 is a case in point. Post-abrogation of Article 370, to that of ‘jihad against infidels’.
While a majority of these at- Pakistan’s compulsions with the India successfully ensured that the
tacks have been claimed by the TRF Paris-based watchdog, Financial Ac- internal political rearrangement did GOING FORWARD
(along with a handful linked to the tion Task Force (FATF), is an import- not attract negative international Despite the best efforts of mili-
HM and the LeT), it is noteworthy ant reason accounting for the drying attention, despite vocal efforts by tant outfits and their masters, inter-
that in each of these attacks, open up of Pakistani sponsorship to terror Pakistan and Turkey. This waning in- national perceptions have reflected
claims have been made only by the outfits in terms of funds and weapon- ternational support has led militant little change. The popular support
newer outfits – most prominently the ry. Given that the consequences of groups to seek renewed legitimacy within the Valley for a ‘secular’ face of
TRF. No official statements claiming Islamist terrorism have adversely af- and support for their activities, in the militancy is limited as well. However,
such attacks have been released by fected most of the Western world, the garb of calls for safeguarding human the use of these new organizations
the LeT or HM since. popular acceptability of any struggle rights and rhetoric of ‘struggle for re- as fronts for other Pakistan-backed
Given the fact that most of these following an Islamist path has gener- sistance’ against ‘occupational forces’ Islamist organizations could sustain
new organizations are termed as ally decreased over the years. With as opposed to previous calls for jihad. militancy in the state. This calls for
Front Organizations of the previous- India highlighting Pakistani involve- The nomenclature, iconography, and careful monitoring of their tactics,
ly existing ones, it could partly explain ment in sponsoring terror and desta- language appear to aim to portray modus operandi, reach, and popular
why older militant organizations bilizing the country’s internal secu- the militancy as a strictly indigenous response to their influence opera-
have not made any recent claims. rity, international perceptions have movement for ‘freedom’ with no ex- tions. The operations of these fronts
Most of these attacks are claimed by in the information domain must be
the TRF even as no significant re- tackled at par with those in the phys-
cruitment has been recorded by the ical domain. After all, every act in
organization since its inception (as the physical domain emerges from
depicted in Graph 1). The possibil- an idea in the cognitive domain –
ity that the new ‘secular’ outfits are through information consumed, or
but a mere cover for the pre-existing on many occasions, force fed.
Pakistan-sponsored organizations is
more likely the bitter truth. Ms Tejusvi Shukla is Research
Intern at the Manohar Parrikar Insti-
WAR IN THE INFORMATION tute for Defense Studies and Analyses,
DOMAIN New Delhi
While the appearance and lan-
guage of communication has been Views expressed are of the author and
do not necessarily reflect the views of
carefully ‘secularized’, the militancy the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or of the
in its essence – in terms of the ability Government of India.
to gather popular support, its choice
of targeted killings, and the objec- This is the abridged version of the In-
tives driving the selection of targets troduction of the book which appeared
for attacks, has remained communal. first in the Comment section of the
In terms of local recruitments, the website (www.idsa.in) of Manohar Par-
previously existing Islamist outfits Pilgrims on their way to the Amarnath Shrine on Wednesday. (ANI Photo) rikar Institute for Defense Studies and
continue to attract more recruits. Analyses, New Delhi on July 5, 2022

www.TheIndianEYE.com