The need to win them over – again

The terrorist attack in Pahalgam and the security crackdown in its aftermath have shaken the people of Jammu and Kashmir to the core. A fragile peace has been shattered, and a hard-earned sense of normalcy dashed. The local economy is feeling the pinch already, and memories of the fearful days of violence and intimidation, the jackboots and living life on the edge have returned.

The unprecedented wave of protests by ordinary Kashmiris after the brutality of Baisaran might even have risen from a sixth sense of this very outcome. But their outcry was soon overshadowed by a wave of negative media coverage, especially some television channels, which vilified . This, combined with the sweeping crackdown by security agencies, has really disheartened Kashmiris.

Right after the Pahalgam attack, more than 2,000 people were arrested, whom the police described as ‘Over Ground Workers’ or ‘sympathisers’ of militants. Some were held under the Public Safety Act (PSA), which allows the detention of individuals without trial or a formal charge. Also, several family homes of terrorists were demolished using explosives, and women from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) who had married Kashmiri men were expelled from the Valley.

Simultaneously, Kashmiris across the country , further deepening their sense of alienation. Even as a section of the electronic media targeted Kashmiris in the wake of Pahalgam, there was little to no coverage of the hardships of the local population in other media.

Talking about the media’s indifference to the plight of Kashmiris, Aijaz Wani, a local student, told National Herald: “Even during the recent escalation of hostilities between India and Pakistan, the people of J&K have borne the brunt — in terms of fatalities, destruction of private property, loss of business... About 27 people have been killed — 20 in Poonch alone — and more than 50 were seriously injured in shelling across the border. Numerous houses and other properties were destroyed, yet the media did not report it properly. Even the prime minister did not acknowledge these sacrifices by the people of J&K in his speech after the cessation of hostilities.”

On the need to recognise their hardship, especially of residents of border areas, political scientist and commentator Ellora Puri said: “The immediate priority for the government — both at the Centre and in the state — must be to address the situation along the Line of Control (LoC), from the Valley to Jammu, and even along the International Border (IB). First and foremost, the government must acknowledge what people have endured.

“This is imperative not just from a humanitarian perspective, but also for strategic reasons. India mustn’t only acknowledge but highlight that its people have suffered. Long-term processes for rebuilding relations and restoring trust must continue, but the acknowledgment of the suffering of the people of J&K and addressing their immediate needs must come first,” Puri added. Senior journalist and author Nayeema Ahmad Mahjoor argues that the harsh treatment of Kashmiris by the authorities deepens their sense of alienation.

Speaking to National Herald, she said: “Terrorism is not confined to J&K; it is a global phenomenon. Have we seen similarly harsh measures [against their own people] in other countries? The militaristic policy has already alienated the population, which came out in droves to protest the Pahalgam massacre. What more can Kashmiris do to demonstrate their loyalty?” Instead of investigating the intelligence lapses, the government chose to target ordinary citizens, she said. “You conduct raids and searches [on locals], you arrest hundreds of innocent Kashmiri boys. What message are you sending?” she asks.

Apart from charges of a security lapse, critics have also expressed concern over the failure to apprehend the attackers. Speaking on condition of anonymity, an academic told National Herald: “One can understand and accept the failure to prevent such an attack. But it is serious that we haven’t succeeded in apprehending the terrorists. Their capture is crucial to prove Pakistan’s hand in inciting terrorism on our soil. We were able to prove their involvement in the only because we captured [Ajmal] Kasab, presented him before the international community, and ensured that he faced the law of the land. Where did the Pahalgam attackers go? Did they just vanish in the jungle?”

Notably, the nearest border point between Pahalgam and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is in Poonch, approximately 175 km by road. When travelling on foot through dense forests, the journey from Pahalgam to Poonch, it is estimated, can take over a week. Critics are asking if the focus on targeting suspected ‘sympathisers’ in the civilian population overshadowed the pursuit of terrorists.

Amid growing tensions, analysts argue that reconciliation, not repression, is the way forward. Prof. Noor Ahmad Baba, former head of the political science department at Kashmir University, advocates a policy that emphasises ‘emotional integration’.

“The challenge for the government of India is to foster the emotional integration of the people of Jammu and Kashmir into the national mainstream. This integration must occur at all levels. Any action that risks alienating the people from this process must be avoided. The government, while acting tough against terrorism, should approach the common people with empathy and understanding to win them over,” Baba told National Herald. The government, it is commonly believed, missed an opportunity to build on the goodwill seen during the public protests post-Pahalgam.

“This was an opportunity to heal Kashmir and express solidarity… Yet, the selective punitive actions have led to a sense of hopelessness about the future. [This] approach has long-term consequences,” Mahjoor warned.

The question arises: will this alienation give rise to anti-national sentiment in Jammu and Kashmir? Mahjoor fears the recent crackdown might have re-activated dormant pockets. Even people harbouring sympathies for Pakistan had begun to recognise the oppressive nature of the Pakistan army, especially after the ouster of former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan, his subsequent incarceration, and the Pakistan army’s tyrannical policies toward its own people.

Mahjoor believes Imran Khan is popular among the Kashmiri youth, and that they are fed up with the tyrannical policies of the Pakistan army and Pakistan’s changing stance on the abrogation of Article 370. “They had begun to move away… coming round to the view that they were used as cannon fodder during the militancy”, but the most recent hostile exchange between the two countries may have “rekindled the hopes of a pro-Pakistan faction, which had remained dormant in the past few years”.

Other analysts argue the urgent need for India to initiate confidence-building measures (CBMs), an empathetic approach — prioritising dialogue, development and reconciliation over militaristic policies — to address deep seated grievances and to counter alienation. “The CBMs could include release of detainees, repeal of harsh laws — particularly those introduced through the Reorganisation Act of 2019 — compensation for victims, rehabilitation of those who have suffered recent losses, and steps to address rising unemployment,” another analyst said, requesting anonymity. What hangs in the balance is not just the interests of Kashmiris from a humanitarian perspective but also the larger strategic interests of India, its national security and unity.