JAMMU, 26 February 2020, TON: In a recent statement, Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh said, “there are 240 to 250 active listed militants in the Jammu and Kashmir valley". Few days back, New Delhi has announced that Panchayat elections in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, scheduled to be held in March 2020, have been postponed for indefinite period. It is pertinent to mention here that India abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 on 5 August and bifurcated it into two Union territories. The election for a local government was first litmus test after occupied Jammu and Kashmir State was bifurcated into two union territories, however, Indian intelligence agencies have furnished reports that it would be a great blunder and may lead to irreparable loss to India’s Jammu and Kashmir Policy.

Meanwhile, Speaking at the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council which is being held in Geneva, Switzerland from 24 February 20 March, Vikas Swarup, Secretary Indian Ministry of External Affairs, described Pakistan as the epicenter of global terrorism. He called for decisive action against states who direct, control, fund and shelter terrorists. Interestingly, Indian Chief of Army Staff General Naravane visited Indian formations deployed in the Northern Command  and witnessed the damage caused by the Pakistani Armed Forces at the Indian positions. There were allegations by some civilians that Pakistan violated Indian airspace at Ranbir Singh Pura (RS Pura) sector however, same could not be confirmed.

There are speculations that India might be planning an attack inside Pakistani territories but same is not supported by ground realities. However, there are reports that Indian Military and the Air Force are planning a misadventure during March this year. There are planners who have supported move of elements of 50 Independent Para Brigade from Chushul to Jammu as well as that of Independent Mountain Brigades. One wonders it would be a great folly on part of India to perceive that a common friend of both the countries would interfere to isolate Pakistan in case of an aerial attack. The fact cannot be denied. In case a misadventure by India is repeated, Islamabad would adopt an entirely different strategy to deal with the situation.