KASHMIR : When Doval introduced the Doctrine and Modi made it count

Will the Valley fall silent? It would soon as there is a multi dimensional approach adopted by the Government to ensure that peace returns for good at the Kashmir Valley. There is no doubt that Pakistan will continue to be an irritant always, but the government is working to ensure that it is no longer a threat. Narendra Modi in the run up to the elections in 2014 emphasised heavily on the need to have a better internal security mechanism in place. India was witnessing terror attacks on a regular basis and this needed to stop. However Modi and his team always knew that Kashmir was a different ball game and the approach had to be different when compared to the ones adopted by the previous regimes. There were discussions galore at the highest levels in New Delhi. Appeasement had not worked, talks with Pakistan controlled separatists had failed and any attempt to speak peace with Pakistan was ruined by their army. And then came the doctrine... It was decided at one of the meetings that things need to be done differently in Kashmir. There was no way that talks would be held with the separatists who always insisted that the same could not be within the ambit of the Indian Constitution. Moreover the government felt that if talks were to be held then the separatists needed come forward first. With that being cast aside, the next step was to rid the streets of the Valley of stone pelters 'Azaadi chanters' and terrorists. It was also found that the separatists of the Valley were getting funds unabated. It was time that the Doval Doctrine was implemented. The doctrine by National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval reads, "Do not overreact, it will pass off as they cannot sustain beyond a point." Modi was keen that the doctrine was not just implemented, but it had to count as well. It meant shunning appeasement, going after the funding and giving both the National Investigation Agency and the Indian Army a free hand in the Valley. Choked and cornered :: The separatists and the terrorists found themselves cornered on three fronts. First and foremost they were isolated as the government decided that it was enough of appeasement. Secondly, the terrorists were being picked and gunned down by the Indian Army. Thirdly the NIA carried out one of the most effective probes in the Hurriyat terror funding case. It was a combination of all three which ensured that both terrorists and separatists were choked and cornered. On one hand terrorists were engaged in gun battles with the Army while on the other hand, separatists looked for funds. The lack of funds meant that the terrorists and stone pelters could not be paid. This resulted in a relative calm down in the Valley. No time for complacency :: A broad assessment of the situation in the Valley today suggests that the job has just begun. The first part of it has been done and the Valley has gone silent considerably. To ensure that the solution is a permanent one, consistency would be key. The Valley would remain volatile and the key would be to ensure that there is complacency at anytime as Pakistan would look to grab that opportunity. Moreover the NIA also needs to ensure that its hard work does not go down the drain which would mean that the agency will have to ensure that the Hurriyat members part of the terror funding case are sentenced and locked up behind bars- not in Kashmir or Delhi, but somewhere down South.