After the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, the violence levels in Jammu and Kashmir have witnessed a significant decline as the security forces have broken the back of terrorists and their supporters.
While addressing an event marking the 79th foundation day of Delhi Police, Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, announced that J&K would be violence free by 2029 as the Union Territory is moving towards lasting peace.
“Nearly 80 percent of internal security challenges faced by the country prior to 2014, particularly in Jammu & Kashmir, the North-East, and Maoist-affected regions, have now been brought under control,” he said.
The Union Home Minister spoke about how the security situation in J&K has improved gradually after August 5, 2019 and the steps taken by the Centre have led to terror eco-system being destroyed.
The post-2019 security strategy in J&K has rested on dismantling the “terror ecosystem”—a phrase that goes beyond eliminating gun-wielding terrorists. It includes choking terror financing, acting against overground workers, curbing hawala networks, strengthening intelligence coordination, and tightening border management. The National Investigation Agency’s intensified operations, stricter enforcement of anti-terror laws, and improved synergy among security forces have collectively weakened the operational capabilities of terrorist outfits. Equally significant has been the marked decline in stone-pelting incidents and large-scale street violence, once a frequent feature of the Valley’s unrest. The shift suggests that organized mobilization networks that previously fueled public disorder have been systematically disrupted. Cross-border infiltration attempts have also reportedly reduced due to enhanced surveillance, fencing, and technological integration along the Line of Control. However, the security dividend must translate into a durable peace dividend. Stability must be consolidated through democratic participation, economic growth, and social reconciliation. Infrastructure projects—from highways and tunnels to rail connectivity—have accelerated, creating new economic possibilities. Tourism has seen record footfall, offering a glimpse of what sustained peace can deliver. |
