The spectre of violence is haunting Kashmir once again. Terrorist attacks are on the increase. There is also very little doubt that, at the present juncture, terrorism is being fuelled largely from across the border. The connection between terrorism and the aspirations of the Kashmiris was always tenuous. But it is now absolutely clear that terrorists have few links with politics inside Kashmir. Were it not for support by, and in, Pakistan, they would not be able to operate. The political process towards peace had gained tremendous momentum within Kashmir over the last two years. The recent attacks are an attempt to derail that process.As the ongoing Express investigations have revealed, the Indian Army is now engaged in one of the largest operations since Kargil to track down militants. The series has highlighted that there should be no doubt about the scale and scope of infiltration, and the threat it represent. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and General Pervez Musharraf had, at their last meeting in New Delhi, agreed to work towards softer borders between India and Pakistan. But the term “soft borders” is once again acquiring a sinister double-meaning. There is the legitimate trickle of people, goods and services that represents hope for the peace process. But this trickle is being increasingly dwarfed in significance by the infiltration of militants. For the West, Pakistan has once again become the object of attention largely because of the association of Pakistanis with the attacks in London. But the influx of terrorists into India is more robust evidence of the fact that American pressure on Pakistan to curb terrorism is not yielding the desired results. If Indian journalists can track militants, it is disingenuous of Pakistan to deny any knowledge of their activities.India has so far given a very measured response to the latest spate of attacks. But as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has made abundantly clear, India’s restraint cannot be taken for granted. It will be difficult for the prime minister to visit Pakistan if the present level of cross-border infiltration continues to escalate. Pakistan should recognise that inflicting needless suffering on the Kashmiri people cannot help their cause.
