Nagrota Encounter

Why in news?

Indian government has decided to step up its diplomatic campaign to hold Pakistan accountable for the Nagrota encounter.

What is the story behind?

• A planned terror strike was carried out in Jammu and Kashmir by four men, who were gunned down by security forces.
• These people were believed to be members of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed.
• A tunnel was discovered in the Samba sector from where these men were supposed to have infiltrated into India.

What did India do?

• India’s Foreign Secretary briefed a group of Ambassadors on the plot.
• The government believes that this plot was planned on the same scale as last year’s Pulwama bombing, and timed for the anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
• The envoys were part of the first batch of diplomats being briefed.
• Indian missions have also been instructed to pass on details of the “information docket” handed over.
• This includes details of the encounter in Nagrota between the suspected terrorists hiding in a truck and security forces.
• This attack is seen as an attempt to target grassroots level democratic exercises in Jammu and Kashmir.
• [The District Development Council elections is due to start on November 28, 2020.]

What is the strategy?

• By apprising the international community, it would seem the government has a multi-pronged strategy.
• The first imperative is to ensure that the full implications of the aborted attack and what could have occurred are understood worldwide.
• India should also ensure that the threat it continues to face from cross-border terror is acknowledged.
• In addition, any actions India takes against terror threats the Army perceives along the LoC this point on will be considered retaliatory.
• Secondly, Pakistan must be put squarely on notice as it has been making allegations about a terror threat from India.

What is Pakistan’s position?

• Pakistan still faces the final FATF decision in February 2021 on whether it will be blacklisted.
• It is facing this difficulty due to its inability to curb terror financing and to shut down groups such as the JeM and the LeT.
• Pakistan government would be better positioned in fulfilling the action plan it has been tasked with rather than flashing unsubstantiated reports with counter-claims against India.

What should India do?

• India must also remember that invoking the international community can be a double-edged sword in its bilateral conflict with Pakistan.
• India’s success lies in protecting its borders, as done in Nagrota.
• Providing a peaceful and stable environment in J&K would restart the much-delayed democratic process there, despite all attempts to derail it.

Source: The Hindu