Going By the latest proactive pronouncements of the Vajpayee Government over continuing militancy-related violence in J&K, the BJP-led coalition at the Centre appears set to pursue uni-dimensional military solution to the problem.

If the strategy were compared to any kind of an initiative, it only spells out the Government's renewed resolve to retain the bountiful landmass in Kashmir bereft of its people. The initiative is blind to political, socio-economic and also the international components of the issue that continues to attract attention across the globe.

And also hurt the sentimental strands of the national psyche. Forget about the enormous continuing loss of men and material. The Centre's new proactive policy also makes a specific reference to "special operations" to be launched with the help of retired soldiers and members of the Village Defence Committees (VDCs) so as to effectively infiltration and exfiltration along the(LoC/ International Border (IB).

But from where will the Government recruit all these VDCs across the State? The official elaboration is silent over this vital aspect of its fire-fighting operations. The facts fly in the face of the Government's claims. According to reliable sources, around 1,800 Special Police Officers (SPOs) comprising ex-servicemen and retired police personnel and backed by another 5,300 odd VDCs are to be deployed in Poonch-Rajouri belt of Jammu province.

There is no possibility of such village-level security-grid being set up in the sensitive Kashmir valley for want of manpower ...

The latest phase in stepped-up militancy in Kashmir, according to knowledgeable observers, can be attributed partly, to a new era of alienation amongst the (people) following the absence (a) composite Kashmir policy and also non-performance of the State Government headed by the non-resident Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah ...

In his latest ... response ... Home Minister L.K. Advani blamed Pakistan for its "undeclared war" against the nation in Jammu and Kashmir. However, if lessons are to be learnt from history, no war has ever been won without the support of the people.

(Source: The Hindustan Times, 19 January, 2000)