Terrorist Violence in Kashmir Valley

• Ten civilians and two soldiers were killed in a series of terrorist attacks in Kashmir, primarily targeting non-local workers.
• The attacks aimed to create fear among the non-local worker population and provoke a disproportionate response from security forces.
• The administration, including the Lieutenant-Governor and the newly elected National Conference-led government, must ensure security forces are not manipulated by militants.
• The entire Kashmiri polity, including separatist figures like Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, have condemned the attacks on civilians.
• The administration is better equipped to isolate militants with the new government in place.
• The shift in the terror strategy indicates a desperate attempt to polarize Kashmiri society and use the dismay with the Union Government’s measures to recruit for the militant cause.
• Despite past experiences of militancy, this has not resulted in a full-blown insurgency.
• The key to ending militancy is to address the grievances of the people and win their confidence.