India needs clear plan on Kashmir issue, says K Rajendra Kumar

Mumbai: Former director general of police of Jammu and Kashmir, K. Rajendra Kumar, said that India should adopt a ‘clear-cut roadmap’ to tackle the Kashmir issue.

While delivering the Lali-taditya Memorial Lecture in Pune, he said that the United States of America (USA) pulling out troops from Afghanistan will have implications in the valley and the terrorist outfits may feel emboldened.

In his speech at the programme organised by Sarhad organisation, Mr Kumar said “A stern message needs to be sent to Pakistan in terms of retaliation. We need to make it more costly for Pakistan, as they are not feeling the pinch.”

Mr Kumar said that India should deal strongly with Pakistan as far as training camps and terrorist launch pads are concerned.

The US is planning to withdraw 7,000 troops from Afghanistan. The American troops contribute to training and advising local forces fighting the Taliban and the Islamic State group.

“Seeing America’s withdrawal as a ‘sign of victory’, terrorist outfits can feel that New Delhi can also be defeated. Hence, India should soon adopt a ‘clear-cut roadmap’ to deal with terrorism in Kashmir,” said Mr Kumar.

Underling Pakistan’s active role in spreading terrorism in the Valley, the former IPS officer said that Pakistan is not only sponsoring terrorism but also sending its nationals to Kashmir in the garb of fighting jihad. “No matter which government is in power, Pakistan continues to sponsor terrorism in the Valley,” he said.

Suggesting measures, he said the state needs stringent laws to deal with anti-national forces and a concrete policy to encourage youths to give up militancy.

The surrender policy must ensure that the youth who give up militancy are properly employed and discouraged from returning to the menace, Mr Kumar said. He also called for political outreach and empowerment of the civil society.