What killing of militant Kashmir University professor says about new-age militancy in the Valley
After school drop-outs and educated youth, academicians are picking up arms in Kashmir.
Muhammad Rafi Bhat, a young assistant professor of Kashmir University, killed during encounter, within two days of having joined militant ranks, has yet again brought focus on the new-age militancy in the restive region.
Rafi was among five militants, including wanted Hizbul Mujahideen commander Saddam Padder, killed by government forces in Shopian district on May 6. Five civilians were also killed in clashes in the area.
Padder was the only surviving militant from a core group of 11, who two years ago had posed for group photos alongside their then Hizb commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani. Captured in some orchard, the picture had gone viral as an iconic image of new-age militancy.
Barring one, however, government forces killed all of them, including Burhan, one-by-one. Only survivor - Tariq Pandith - surrendered.
Government forces are crushing militancy with iron hands and copper bullets, alike.
As many as 218 militants were killed in 2017 alone. More than 60 militants, including the academician with doctorate in sociology, have been killed this year.
But unfazed by the deadly onslaught on militants under Operation All Out, youth like Muhammad Rafi continue to pick up arms, ready to fight — win or die.
In February, chief minister Mehbooba Mufti admitted that Kashmir saw a 44 per cent jump in local youths joining militancy in 2017. A total of 126 youths joined extremist groups in 2017, 38 more than the previous year.
This year, the trend is even more alarming. As per a PTI report of May 3, at least 45 youth, including an MBA and a scholar pursuing PhD, had joined militancy by mid-April.
So despite killing of school drop-outs like Wani or young engineer-turned-militant Eisa Fazili, educated youth like Mannan Wani, a scholar pursing doctorate at Aligarh Muslim University, are out with guns.
But then has the killing of militants achieved desired results?
Well, as per the Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat's recent observations, neither the forces nor militants will achieve their goals. "The time is not far when even they will be convinced that neither the forces nor the terrorists will be able to achieve their goal. We have to together find a way for peace and we will be successful in that," Rawat said on April 15.
A few days after Rawat's observation, on April 26, former Jammu and Kashmir DGP Kuldeep Khoda said killing of militants in the state will further worsen the situation in 2018.
Call it fate or coincidence these developments are unfolding at a time the holy month of Ramazan is approaching.
So, why not avail the opportunity to call a ceasefire with the local militants?
After all, if the Indian Army has agreed for a joint military exercise with their Pakistani counterparts in Ural mountains of Russia later this year, why cannot the same Army extend an olive branch to Kashmiri youth?
As of now, dialogue for solution to Kashmir is essentially subject to ceasefire with home-grown militants.
New Delhi has already appointed former spymaster Dineshwar Sharma as the interlocutor for Kashmir.
Sharma, a former chief of the elite Intelligence Bureau, having worked extensively on Kashmir, doesn't need awareness on what is the possible solution. All that he needs is a conducive situation to take a step forward.
A strategic ceasefire can give the interlocutor a chance to persuade the youth, who have picked up arms, to contribute towards resolving the Kashmir problem.
Though political solution to Kashmir cannot be an overnight achievement, surprise ceasefire can mark a new beginning.
After 40 killings in April, May has witnessed 19 killings in just the first six days of the month. Somewhere a civilian, somewhere a Kashmiri militant or a security jawan killed; but every killing means a family loses its member, a precious life lost.
Given the puzzling developments, the new-age militancy in Kashmir is proving more worrisome than what New Delhi had perceived could be tackled via Operation All Out.
If from school drop-outs and students to university teachers, youth from various walks of life continue to join militant ranks, you cannot put the blame on the blackboard.
If killings have failed to restore peace, let life be given a chance. This Ramazan, let's all resolve to say Bismillah ceasefire, lest it is too late.