The Indian state needs to revisit the very concept of force as a sub-median rather than an ultimate response to combating home grown terrorism and militancy. We are yet to see an in-depth review of cases of fragging in the country. The study by the Defence Institute of Psychological Research does not cover the socio-political roots of violence or its impact on the military mind. Some pointers from the analysis of cases of fratricide in the Vietnam war would indicate insensitivity to violence arising from incessant exposure to death or fear of it and officers placing their command at risk due to sheer incompetence or to seek glory for themselves as possible reasons for fratricide. In 1970 alone, the Pentagon reported over 200 cases of fratricide, while in India in 2006 the figure had reached 23. The issue is still under control, yet it would indicate that the cause of psychological stress arises as much from the perceived immorality of conditions of combat as it does from concern for one’s family at home. Thus, simplifying symptoms to monetary distress or turnaround through leave may provide only temporary relief.

The core issue is to limit the exposure of the uniformed force, particularly the army, to violence unless required by the exceptional circumstances of war. This will help retain a sense of humaneness by avoiding a continuous exposure to blood and gore. Demilitarisation may thus be as much an answer as providing two free tickets home each year. Furthermore, militancy in Kashmir has now reached the classical final 20 per cent zone, wherein the input-output ratio is skewed. This is already evident in the low security forces to terrorist kill ratio of 1: 2.4. Beyond this point, the deployment of Armed Forces will have only marginal results: the solution is political and involves dialogue with militant groups — particularly the Hizbul Mujahideen, the largest indigenous group with grassroots support in the Valley. Channels must open for this. Thus, if negotiations can be held with the ULFA, which does not recognise the Constitution, Kashmiri groups should not be a taboo.

... contd.