Bloody Tuesday

It has been a horrendous 48 hours in Jammu and Kashmir the like of which has not been seen there since 1998. There can be no doubt that the savage bloodletting by terrorists thought to be non-Kashmiris is intended to test the Centre8217;s nerve and to sabotage the peace moves begun recently. It is a grim scenario with around 100 innocent people killed and no way of knowing whether the death toll will end there. Hindu pilgrims and workers have been mainly targeted to heighten communal tension and worsen the law and order situation. Despite all that and the certain knowledge that the government8217;s new flexible approach towards Kashmiri militants has provoked the new round of terrorism, the Prime Minister is right to insist the peace moves will go on. There is no other option. Indeed, all sides to the proposed peace talks must press on with renewed determination.

The murder and mayhem of the last two days, like the massacres of April and June 1998, underscore vital differences between those who have taken up arms to fight for the Kashmiri cause. Those who have a stake in Jamp;K, who have memories of happier days and a vision for its future, are the ones who find the hardships of the people increasingly intolerable and are looking for answers through non-violent means. For the mercenaries and wild-eyed religious fundamentalists 8212; pro-Taliban Afghans and the flotsam and jetsam from a score of other extremist movements 8212; who have no personal commitment to the land or its people, this is just another battle zone in which to wreak terror. Peace threatens their livelihood, the communities of brothers-under-arms set up in Muzzafarabad, Peshawar and Khandahar, and their very raison d8217;etre. They will do everything possible to scuttle peace in Jamp;K. Although great horror and anger is being felt in India at the latest massacre of innocents, the Centre should not allow itself tobe stampeded by emotion into reversing course or slowing down. The answer to the massacres is not less peace but more peace. Greater vigilance by the security forces is the need of the hour. Easing up on the proactive policy followed hitherto in response to the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen8217;s ceasefire should not lead to flaccidity and complacency. Heightened terror tactics in the immediate aftermath of peace initiatives have occurred in many other contexts. There is no need to go as far as Israel and Northern Ireland for examples when plenty can be found closer at hand in India8217;s Northeast. Congregations of people as in work camps, unguarded villages, markets etc need to be specially protected.

It is possible someone in Pakistan8217;s political-military-intelligence establishment pulls the strings of the groups responsible for the killings. However, it does not make sense for Gen Pervez Musharraf to sanction such action. After all, he is desperately seeking international legitimacy and finds it imperative to pose as a peacemaker. Judgment on that should be reserved for the time being. But India should waste no time in going on a propaganda offensive. The world should know that the terrorists who still find sanctuary in Pak-occupied territory are a threat to many others besides Indian citizens. Musharraf must start closing down their camps and training schools.