Dr, Preeti Sharma
In a recent development, the United States issued a travel advisory, underscoring the grave security threats pervading select regions of India, including the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which was identified as a high-risk destination due to the specter of crime, civil unrest, and terrorism. India responded by characterizing this advisory as a routine practice among nations, thereby downplaying its significance.
Notwithstanding this, the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir has made remarkable strides in its post-2019 journey, marked by the abrogation of its special status and reorganization into Union territories. This transformative shift has accelerated the region’s progress towards restoring peace and developmental activities, as borne out by official data indicating a significant decline in infiltration attempts.
After decades of turmoil, Jammu and Kashmir is now experiencing an unprecedented era of growth, marked by improved administration, a secure environment, and an influx of tourists and investors. The substantial developments in socio-economic security, stability, and growth measures have transformed the scenario in Jammu and Kashmir, which now boasts a decline in recruitment into militancy and terror activities. As per the official records, till July 2024, J&K has completely done away with organised stone pelting and strikes, and despite a few incidents happened in last few months, there is a decline in terrorist initiated incidents, encounters, killings of security forces and civilians. The region has witnessed a remarkable voter turnout of 58.46% in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the highest in 35 years, underscoring the public’s growing faith in the democratic process. The G20 meeting in Srinagar served as a testament to the UT’s gradual elevation in stability and global significance. Despite sporadic incidents of violence, the progress achieved in Jammu and Kashmir cannot be negated, as evidenced by the record tourist footfall of over one crore till June 2024.
In consideration of the intermittent yet persistent reality of sporadic violence, it is imperative to acknowledge the transformative progress unfolding in the region, unobscured by the travel advisories issued by nations such as the United States, which serve as a standard precautionary measure. The remarkable strides made by Jammu and Kashmir are exemplified by the unprecedented tourist footfall of over one crore till June 2024, surpassing the previous year’s tally of two crores. This surge in tourism can be attributed to the significant improvements in law and order, coupled with the successful organization of various events, including the tourism conclave.
Furthermore, Jammu and Kashmir has borne witness to a record number of scholars, academicians, journalists, and individuals from diverse backgrounds converging to engage in discourse on peace, nation-building, and institution-building, in addition to the myriad positive developments that have transpired in the aftermath of Article 370’s abrogation. These grand events, facilitated by the ‘South Asia Center for Peace and People’s Empowerment’ in collaboration with GDC Shopian, have been instrumental in revitalizing a locale that was once a hotbed of secessionist fervor and a bastion of intransigence, where the specter of anti-India sentiment once held sway, and constructive engagement was deemed anathema.
In this erstwhile state, which was, until recently, a cauldron of insurrectionary zeal and a forbidden terrain for benevolent initiatives, a plethora of schemes and policies have been unveiled, inviting investments and promoting foreign investment in both small and large industrial sectors. The introduction of the new industrial policy in 2021 has been instrumental in catalyzing investments in Jammu and Kashmir, as evidenced by the record investment proposal of Rs 84,544 crores received in the industrial sector. The forward-looking investment policy of the UT has attracted large business groups, including Dubai’s Emaar Group, which has invested USD 60 million, thereby removing roadblocks and redefining politico-economic developments in the region.
The burgeoning interest of domestic and foreign investors in vital sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing can be attributed to the lifting of restrictions, improved security conditions, and liberalized land policies, which have collectively shaped the state’s investment policy by attracting Foreign Direct Investment, a crucial catalyst in developing the state’s economic potential.
The abrogation of Article 370 and afterwards lifting of restrictions marked a watershed moment for Jammu and Kashmir, heralding the dawn of a new era of economic liberation. The confluence of improved security conditions and liberalized land policies has precipitated a remarkable influx of Foreign Direct Investment, unshackling the region’s latent potential in agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism. Through a series of visionary initiatives and policy reforms, the government is painstakingly transforming Jammu and Kashmir into an investor-friendly haven.
The judicious regulation of FDI will serve as a catalyst, elevating the state’s business environment, generating employment opportunities, and enticing further investment. As the region strives for unprecedented economic growth and development, FDI will assume a pivotal role. The possibilities are endless, and the future holds boundless promise, provided that forthcoming opportunities for growth are seized with alacrity and executed with unwavering efficiency. The horizon beckons, and the sky’s the limit, as Jammu and Kashmir embarks on an odyssey of unbridled progress and prosperity.
These momentous developments serve as a testament to the remarkable headway achieved in cultivating an atmosphere of enduring peace, stability, and security for the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir. Furthermore, this auspicious trajectory shall persist in charting a course of unbridled progress, kindling a radiant beacon of democratic principles, and thereby ushering in an epoch of unparalleled advancement and felicity.
Notwithstanding the remarkable socio-economic advancements witnessed in the region, the recent terrorist attacks constitute an incontrovertible reality, having surfaced in novel areas of Jammu, hitherto unscathed by the decades-long terrorist insurgency that has plagued Kashmir. These attacks possess far-reaching implications and underlying motivations, including the strategic recalibration of Pakistan-based terrorist groups in the aftermath of the revocation of Article 370. These groups have redirected their focus from the heavily fortified Kashmir Valley to the relatively vulnerable Jammu region, exploiting its vast and rugged terrain to infiltrate armed militants across the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC).
These militants often assume the guise of civilians, procuring weapons from clandestine hideouts with the connivance of local guides. Their ultimate objective is to disrupt the Assembly elections held this year in the Union Territory, thereby undermining the democratic process and perpetuating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. The resurgence of terrorist activity in Jammu serves as a poignant reminder of the region’s vulnerabilities and the need for sustained vigilance and counter-terrorism efforts to mitigate the threat posed by Pakistan-based terror groups.
Security agencies are confronting novel challenges in Jammu, where the conventional counter-terrorism paradigms employed in Kashmir may prove less efficacious. The dynamic landscape necessitates a comprehensive reevaluation of security stratagems to effectively counter the resurgence of terrorism. While Kashmir has witnessed a diminution in incidents of stone-pelting, the migration of militant activities to Jammu precipitates trepidation. The infiltration of terror operations into urban enclaves within Jammu underscores the imperative need for robust security measures, calibrated to address the evolving threat matrix.
The shifting locus of terrorist activity demands an adaptive response, leveraging innovative strategies and tactics to counter the menace. As the security apparatus navigates this uncharted terrain, it must remain vigilant and agile, harnessing intelligence and expertise to thwart the designs of militant entities. The specter of terrorism in Jammu serves as a clarion call for enhanced cooperation and coordination among security agencies, ensuring a unified and effective response to the emerging challenges.
(Author is an Assistant Professor, School of International Studies, Central University of Gujarat, Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author.)