There is a multiplication of threats.  More threats are coming. And, internal security is under more threat than ever before. So far, the internal security has been  measured  in terms of militancy, sleeping cells  and so on. Now it is the turn of the social networking sites that is  causing problems for the  men assigned with the task of keeping things under check.  All these dimensions would  multiply further in the near future, because that is how the   threats have indicated  till date. The future is becoming more and more uncertain  as the mandarins dealing with the internal security are dealing with a set of problems  that relate  more to the 20th century than the current one.
 For example, Jammu and Kashmir is a  fit case for a case study on the internal security. Although its origin lies in the first half of the 20th century, yet it has spilled over to the  21st century – one tenth of which has already  found its place into the history Two major factors are responsible for this, because during most of the 20th century, it was a  cloak and dagger game and a war hysteria was  a dominant factor on two sides of the border after the  Partition in 1947.  Reams of papers have been wasted in a blame game  between India and Pakistan as to who of the two are responsible for the tragedy that has struck this beautiful place  That part of the  history has been allowed  to prolong  and enter into the minds of the children born in 21st centuryThey may be  10 or 11, but they   know that they are children of a conflict zone. Conflict is like a  umbilical  chord for them, which the doctors and nurses have been unable to cut  and bring  out the children on their own, in new atmosphere.
As the world  today faces complex problems – the economic  distress, increasing frustration over the massive political corruption, the 21st century’s children are being told more about Iran’s nuclear programme and how it can destablise the whole of the  Middle-East, or Iraq,  where the people are yet to  see an end of the war, forced on the country by the USA in 2003 on some false intelligence  reports, and closer home, Afghanistan  continues to struggle  to find a toehold of stablity.  So, what has changed in Jammu and Kashmir is that its internal security has  changed from the  happenings within to the developments, unfortunate ones,  to the crisis outside of it. This is time to reflect as to why this is happening  and with what objectives.
The very definition  of the internal security and its  dimensions have undergone a sea change.  Instead of resolving the issues, the focus is on how to  foresee more threats and their fall out. Instead of limiting the nature of the conflict  and  tackling the internal security issues, across the table,  the 20th century methods are being applied in 21st century. At the time of the writing this Article,  there is a vague  idea as to what Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of Jammu and Kashmir would be stressing: revocation of the special powers of the security forces, reduction of  footprints of the men in uniform, better deal for the  special police officers, more battalions for  the state police.  That’;s a standard operational procedure at  all the  internal security meetings, whether held in the cool climes of the Kashmir Valley  or sweltering heat of New Delhi. The places are different, but the ideas are old.
Jammu and Kashmir has more problems  than  those seen on the table.  Its primary objective, which the political leaders across the country must recognise,  is to get rid of the tag of the  conflict. And this also is true that it wouldn’t vanish without  serious efforts in that direction. The revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act  or demilitarization, dismantling of bunkers  are footnotes of a  chapter   that  is seen by the people within and outside of the state.  The problem will not disappear, and the internal security would remain an issue, unless  some specific direction that generates hope for the youth  is given. This is the task that neither one individual or group of individuals sitting  in the conferences can resolve. It  demands serious intention from macro to micro level and the  beginning can be made in schools.  It has to be understood that, somewhere, some bold steps are needed  by  bridging gaps between those seeking perpetuation of the conflict and those seeking a peaceful solution to the conflict, not just by lip service but by actions  and those, too, positive ones.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST