On 14th of February 2019, terrorist groups launched an attack on a CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) convey moving from Jammu to Srinagar.
A suicide bomber rammed the convoy carrying over 2500 soldiers in an explosive-laden car. Subsequently, the attackers opened fire, and over 40 are dead and many more critically injured.
The Jaish-e- Mohammed, a terror group, has claimed credit for the attack. The Hindustan Times has reported that this was a fidayeen attack and was carried out by a local youth who has been identified as Adil Ahmed from Kakapra in Pulwama district.
Fidayeen attack on the convoy
The convoy had started from Jammu at 03:30 in the morning and the attack took place about 20 km from Srinagar. The Jammu-Srinagar highway is heavily guarded and its a matter of consternation that a Fidayeen attack was successful. CRPF units are paramilitary troops helping the army in terror operations in the Kashmir state.
Prime minister Narendra Modi has condemned the attack, and Home Minister Rajnath Singh has reached Srinagar for a first-hand review of the situation. The army has been called out to assist the paramilitary forces.
NDTV has reported that this is the worst terror strike on security personnel since the Uri attack in September 2016, when four heavily armed terrorists targeted an army brigade headquarters -- resulting in over 17 casualties.
"No Words Enough": Politicians Across Parties Condemn Pulwama Attack https://t.co/1JPK6u2Zo1 #NDTVNewsBeeps #Pulwama #CRPF #KashmirTerrorAttack #Awantipora pic.twitter.com/lhSxSYz5C3
— NDTV (@ndtv) February 14, 2019
Alliance with PDP
Ever since the BJP-led government took over at Delhi after the 2014 election, a series of blunders including forming a government in Kashmir with the PDP led by Mehbooba Mufti has worsened the situation.
The PDP clearly had a separatist agenda, and the BJP joined hands with it in its quest for power. This did not help, and the result is that terrorist activity has gone up considerably.
PM Modi tweeted:
Attack on CRPF personnel in Pulwama is despicable. I strongly condemn this dastardly attack. The sacrifices of our brave security personnel shall not go in vain. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the families of the brave martyrs. May the injured recover quickly.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 14, 2019
Modi government's sins
Modi government is guilty of many sins of omission on the security front.
The present government is guilty of sanctioning the lowest budget ever as a percentage of the GDP of 1.51 since 1947.
In contrast, Pakistan spends over 3 percent and China aspiring to be the worlds number one power 5 percent of its GDP on defence. The recent acquisition of a mere 36 Rafale planes which have come for the airshow at Bangalore in place of 126 is a pointer to the lopsided priorities of the Modi government.
18, 20, 30, 39 and now reports coming that death toll in #Pulwama attack has reached more then 40.#Attack_in_Kashmir pic.twitter.com/zSuiXs2HOA
— Bhaskar chakraborty (@78Bhaskar) February 14, 2019
Future
The government has also been steadily whittling away at the perks and privileges of the Armed forces, and after 30 years rations for personnel in peace stations were discontinued and the One Rank One Pension (OROP) as defined by Parliament not sanctioned.
All these have had a cumulative effect, and the government will have to think hard what to do next. Just blaming Pakistan will not be the best way forward.
