OPINION: AFSPA necessary to deal with violence in the Valley

Sometime back Gen V. K. Singh, Chief of the Army Staff, has in an interview warned that partial revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in J&K will create terrorist ‘sanctuaries’ and dilatation of the Act will be detrimental to national interest.

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on his visit to Srinagar in a meeting, on Sunday, with JKPCC president Saifuddin Soz and Deputy CM Tara Chand, is right to say - "It (AFSPA) will gradually go but we cannot take the risk now.  We cannot withdraw it abruptly".

Principles of good governance and administration demand that the advice of a specialist must be followed and the AFSPA must not be diluted.  It will be a mistake to withdraw or dilute the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) to deal with incidents of mass violence in the Valley.

At the same time, the Army has to work in a surcharged and hostile environment. To control insurgency it is forced to carry out its operations with an additional responsibility to target hidden terrorists without hurting innocent people. Since the Army does not have even police powers, it would be impossible for it to operate without the cover of the AFSPA. We must not ignore this fact that our security forces are already working under great stress and any move to dampen their spirit should be opposed by all the patriotic, nationalistic and right-thinking citizens of India. 

We should feel proud of great sacrifices of our armed forces to protect Indian Borders while we are surrounded by hostile and unethical neighbours who leave no opportunity to destabilise and disintegrate us. The advocates of human rights of terrorists are not going to fight for us on the Borders. 

A healthy dialogue between India and Pakistan is the only solution. If people of both countries and their governments are also keen to establish good relations, then what is the problem? Of course, there are some radical and communal elements. Both India and Pakistan would have to tackle these groups firmly. Politicians too must refrain from politicising issues that affect the peace process.