Strengthening Counter-Terror Strategy

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Context:

On June 16, 2025, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir reiterated the government’s top priority of eradicating terrorism and emphasized the role of the J&K Police (JAKP) in leveraging modern technology and community engagement for enhancing internal security.

Operational Role of JAKP in Counter-Terrorism

Primacy of Local Forces: The J&K Police, with its intimate knowledge of terrain and demography, possesses a strategic advantage over central forces, enabling precise counter-terror operations.
Gaps in Human Intelligence (HUMINT): Recent incidents, such as the Pahalgam attack, expose shortcomings in HUMINT, underscoring the need to strengthen local intelligence collection mechanisms.
Technology and Inter-Agency Collaboration: Adoption of modern surveillance tools and coordinated functioning with intelligence agencies are essential to build a robust, multilayered counter-terror framework.

Importance of Elected Representatives in Security Architecture

Democratic Participation in Security: Locals are more likely to share sensitive information with their elected representatives, making them integral to the region’s security matrix.
Devolution of Power to Improve Accountability: Placing JAKP under the elected government will enhance responsiveness, accountability, and alignment with the community’s aspirations.
Consequences of Exclusion: Marginalisation of elected bodies may result in political indifference and alienation among citizens, weakening grassroots-level vigilance and community-based policing.

Institutional Reforms for Sustainable Peace

Restoring Democratic Structures: Empowering all tiers of governance—from panchayats to Members of Parliament—can rejuvenate participatory security and administrative processes in J&K.
Integrated Policing through Local Engagement: Structured dialogue between police forces and community leaders can enhance intelligence-gathering, promote trust, and improve public safety initiatives.
Context-Specific Counter-Terrorism Models: Given the heterogeneous nature of terrorism across J&K sub-regions, decentralised and localised policing strategies are more effective than uniform, centralised approaches.

Practice Question:

"Discuss the significance of local policing and democratic participation in counter-terrorism strategies with reference to Jammu & Kashmir. How can integrating elected representatives into the security framework enhance grassroots intelligence and public trust?" (250 words)

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