Amarnath Terror Attack: Amid gloom, Modi govt has chance to reset the Kashmir narrative

The horrific killing of Amarnath pilgrims in Anantnag in South Kashmir on the Srinagar- Jammu Highway on Monday has sent shock waves throughout the country. 7 people were killed and 19 injured when a bus carrying pilgrims were targeted by suspected Lashkar terrorists led by Commander Abu Ismail.

 If not for the quick wit of the driver Saleem Sheikh, more innocents would have lost their lives. The horrible attack has been condemned unequivocally by political parties in Jammu and Kashmir. Sensing the sensitivity of the situation, the separatists also have been prompt in their reaction.

Dubbing it as ‘going against very grain of Kashmiri ethos’, Mirwaiz, Yasin Malik and Syed Ali Shah Geelani gave a strong statement. The Kashmiri civil society including many of the pro-Independence voices have criticised the attack, saying it goes against syncretic nature of the Kashmiri society. 

Currently, the government following their steadfast adherence to Doval doctrine, has given a free hand to the forces to hunt down the terrorists. This has obviously led to heightened tension in the valley with Army bringing back cordon-and-search operations (CASO) to weed out militants. Rajnath Singh has gone on record to say that the situation in Kashmir will change in the next one year for good, indicating an all-out fight against insurgents. But to really solve the Kashmir puzzle, one needs to win the hearts and mind of its citizens, something Vajpayee tried to do, and PM Modi has only promised to, without concrete follow-up.

Rajnath Singh’s bold assertion that not all Kashmiris are terrorists and he cares for Kashmiriyat is a welcome statement.  It can be a starting point of a healing mechanism the Valley desperately yearns for. Mind you, Rajnath and other Ministers went against the sentiment of their right-wing base while praising the ethos of Kashmiriyat and the united voice against terror. The rabid right-wing supporters, particularly those on Twitter, believe that Kashmiriyat is a phony concept, since the Pandits were hunted out. One can discuss the merit of the argument, but the Central government has made the right noise after the terror attack, by speaking the message of unity. Now comes the difficult part of following it up with action. If Lashkar has truly gone against the core belief of Kashmiris, are they worth being given support?

Or should they in any way carry the cudgel of Kashmir’s cause. This is an issue the politicians need to raise powerfully with the common people of the Valley. Reconciliation is a gradual process, but no there is no better time than to start now, when everyone is on the same page, at least momentarily.

The intelligence agency needs to do its part by nailing down mastermind Pak terrorist, Abu Ismail, currently carrying out his operation from South Kashmir. The international community too has strongly condemned the terror attacks and efforts should be made to vigorously counter Pakistan’s propaganda regarding Kashmir in every available forum.

While no mercy should be given to the terror mongers and abettors, language of empathy is needed for the common people of Kashmir. If they really believe in Kashmiriyat and promoting an inclusive society where there is no space for bloodshed innocents, the days of Pakistan sponsoring terrorism in the valley should be numbered. Terror shouldn’t have any place in civil society discourse, and this attack should be used as a red line to convince Kashmiris the perils of backing a lunatic foreign power. Modi and co needs to reach out and give peace a chance. It may not go in vain.