SRINAGAR: In the latest prescription to manage Kashmir situation, a former General, Lt Gen Arun Sahni has suggested a series of measures including “something similar” to the idea of recreating Ikhwan cult. He wants the intelligence agencies to infiltrate into the ranks of militants as the political leadership from Srinagar to Delhi should talk in one voice.

The former military leader sees Kashmir as a case of dilution of fear of authority of the armed forces. He wants the home ministry to ban use of combat uniformed by police forces.

“Counter-terrorist operations follow the simple strategy of “an iron fist in a velvet glove. The pressure of military action — initially by eliminating hardcore leaders and subsequently, as a “threat-in-being” — is the catalyst that forces unlawful elements to talk with the government,” General Sahni wrote in an opinion piece in the Indian Express. “Once you dilute the fear of authority of the uniformed forces, there is bound to be resistance to dialogue. This is what we are seeing in the Valley today.”

“There have been incidents of stone-pelting, the use of pellet guns have been questioned and burial ceremonies of terrorists have been accompanied with frenzied emotional speeches by fundamentalist religious or Hurriyat leaders,” the General wrote. “Public censuring and reprimanding of the security forces by senior officials and political leaders has steadily eroded the status and authority of the security forces. There is, therefore, a need to restore the primacy of the uniformed forces in society by concerted effort, at all levels.”

The General said that Srinagar’s anti-national elements thrive on the politically-motivated, anti-national, pro-Pakistan statements of the NC, and PDP besides the statements by “eminent and well-respected leaders like Mirwaiz Umar Farooq”.

“The clamour for azaadi, the expulsion of security forces and revoking of the “disturbed area” status of some places lends legitimacy to the anti-national elements and helps in increasing their public following,” the General wrote. “The visual media must desist from showing selected video clips or pictures that shock the senses. Denying publicity to the anti-national elements will divest them of a vital lifeline.”

(File photo: Ikhwanis from south Kashmir)

For a clarity of thought and direction, the General suggests a “consensus amongst political parties on the national narrative” for a “clarity of thought and direction to the people in the Valley” while strengthening the hand of the elected leaders and governmental agencies.

As part of the social engineering, the General sees it an urgent requirement for the intelligence agencies to infiltrate the ranks of the anti-national elements that will “get a whiff of the nefarious designs of the anti-national elements at an early stage” and help “initiate a change in the mindset of the misguided youth”.

“The example of the Ikhwanis is a good way of redressing the Valley’s situation,” the General concludes. “The Ikhwanis broke away from the militants, came over-ground and assisted the army in eliminating foreign terrorists. They were subsequently absorbed in a military unit. Something similar needs to be put in place in the Valley now.”

General Sahni was General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Command.

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