What has happened in J&K last year?

• Military actions have resulted in neutralizing a large number of terrorists, mostly local.
• Consequence of these actions is an almost similar number of terrorists have come up through recruitment and infiltration.
• J & K state has been transited to Governor’s and then President’s rule.
• It witnessed the successful conduct of the municipal and panchayat polls.

Which concerns are still remaining?

•  Though electoral polls are held, but a degree of empowerment of the local bodies is questionable.
•  Governor’s administration attempts transformational governance without the interference of politics. However, it misses much-needed and oft-demanded initiatives of public outreach.
•  Inference of proxy state actors such Pakistan is getting local support.
•  Instability exists in the security situation of the state. Stabilisation of the security situation is necessary for the emergence of initiatives in political, social and economic spheres.
•  Outreach initiatives like Operation Sadbhavna, a military civic action initiative of 20 years, lacks the mass engagement.
•  It has prevented the development of any perception change and the creation of alternative narratives to counter the propaganda from Pakistan and the separatists.
•  Failure of local administration-
•  The political community is largely marginalized in the Valley heartland due to personal security issues.
•  Local administration cannot initiate social outreach measures.

Who vouch for the effectiveness of non-military initiatives?

•  One community of professionals who vouch for the effectiveness of non-military initiatives are past and present military commanders.
•  Experienced police officers too are of the same opinion.

How to make ‘Outreach strategy’ better?

There are four areas in the outreach strategy that need refinement and coordination by all stakeholder organizations.

 Direct outreach.

• The recruiting rallies for different central and state institutions must be exploited for engagement with the youth. As they seek employment opportunities.
• The idea here must be to give maximum opportunity to the common citizens to speak, criticize and complain.
•  It will make them realize that there are enough people willing to listen rather than talk down to the common Kashmiri.

 Engagement with the clergy

• I will give to message the youth and others on the uniqueness of the Indian system.
•  The clergy has a powerful hold over the public in any Islamic society.

 Exploitation of social media

•  Setting aside of the mutual fears of the people of Jammu and of Kashmir and bringing the people of Ladakh into this ambit as well.
•  If the people of these regions have to live together as an entity of one state, they need to stop suspecting each other.
•  A platform should be created for the meeting of minds from all three regions and from different professions and callings.
•  ‘Operation All Out’ should become a supporting campaign to the four initiatives outlined above instead of the other way around.