KS Correspondent

The first BSF bus became the target of militant’s attack at 8:30 AM, when an explosion was triggered with remote-controlled IED, at Tamatar Morh, 95 kms from Jammu. Three BSF jawans were killed and 37 injured. Condition of six injured was critical. While the search operation was on, the terrorists struck again, this time about one km short of Tamatar Morh. Two BSF buses were damaged. One jawan was killed and eight others injured. Search operations carried out by the Army yielded little clue. At least eight local youth were taken into custody for questioning.

The explosions were owned by the Hizbul Mujahideen. Its spokesman Salim Hashmi in Islamabad, claimed its "commander" Saleem Javed had carried out the landmine attack. This is for the first time that militants struck in an area around Kud. Spread of militancy to areas, where demography is hostile to separatists is a matter of concern for security forces.

On August 21, in a daring day-light attack, terrorists fired two rocket attacks at an army transit camp (261) at Kashko from an opposite hill. The camp is located just 200 metres short of Banihal on Jammu-Srinagar national highway. The transit camp is mostly used by army personnel for taking food, while on their way from Jammu to Srinagar and back.

The attack, which took place at 11-20 AM left three Army jawans dead and ten injured. This was the second strike near Banihal within one week. Previous week two soldiers were killed and two others injured in a landmine explosion. Around same time Banihal police station was also attacked through rockets. The station building was damaged but there was no casualty.

And the third incident that should make us sit up and think is the killing of a Brigadier and a Colonel of Rashtriya Rifles in an IED explosion at Warpora on August 21. Brigadier BS Shergill had joined on Aug 18 and was on the first inspection tour of RR’s battalion and company headquarters and other formations in the Rajawar belt, heavily infested with foreign mercenaries. He was being accompanied by commanding officer of RR 21 Bn, Rajinder Chauhan, who is under transfer and was taking the valedictory inspection of the Army units in that area. At 3.30 PM, when the Brigadier’s cavalcade was negotiating the highly dangerous Wenipora-Zachaldara belt, militants activated the landmine and the targeted vehicle was blown up in air. Six personnel sustained injuries of whom two senior officers succumbed within minutes. This is second time that an officer of the rank of a Brigadier has been killed by militants. In March 1994 Brigadier Sreedhar of 19-Infantry Division, died under similar circumstances at Uri. While many operations were launched in this Rajawar belt, the forest area remained under the control of mercenaries, who mostly belong to Harkat-ul-Jihad Islami and Lashkar-e-Toiba.

Since January 1 this year, nearly 266 security forces personnel have lost their lives, while killing 914 militants till Aug 31. The security forces: terrorists killing ratio is 1:3.4, which is fairly high. During the same period 533 civilians were also killed mostly by separatists. In these civilian killings, fifty three were women and seven children.

Strategically the new incidents convey three things. One, the Jammu-Srinagar national highway continues to be the prime target of terrorists in Jammu province. Strategic Jawahar tunnel is also located in this area. Special efforts are needed to evolve a comprehensive and fool poof strategy for the protection of this vital national highway. We dont not have one at the moment. Infact the entire Pir Panjal region, which overhangs this highway has become a virtually war zone, with terrorists recruiting many locals in their ranks.

Secondly, the spread of militancy to areas like Kud, needs identification of new elements involved in subversion besides pre-emptive strategies. High-profile attacks on senior Army officers have demoralising impact on security forces. Protection of senior officers and pre-empting militant attacks on security installations, vehicles and personnel should form a new element in our counter-insurgency strategy, if we are to deny the psychological initiative to the enemy.

Lastly, why are we failing as a nation. While we react to the killings of civilians, there are hardly any condemnations of the attacks on security personnel and solidarity with their families. Sometime back, General VP Malik said on a satirical note, "the nation is at peace, while the army is at war". Fighting subversion is not only army’s baby, just because they are paid for it. It is the nation’s war.