The way the withdrawal is presented is on the govt. Like I mentioned it should be withdrawn only in theurban areas where there is currently no army deployment in any case. The past five months its been the police and CRPF so it does not connect with the Army.
Besides, AFSPA is a temporary power, it was applied in the 1990s when the militancy was at its peak. Now that militancy has waned it should be logically removed. If it comes back up then apply it again. It should be a dynamic process. Not a static process.
The move is still doing that and the answers has been mostly protestors being shot at and increasing the next the size of mobs in response. For example, Tangmarg in Budgam district was peaceful (also happens to be shia majority. Poonch and Rajouri areas were also peaceful despite being muslim majority. But the protestors being shot has not for the first time moved the violence into muslim areas of Jammu. The training and revisiting of police and CRPF tactics is much more important than AFSPA ofcourse.
But evntually as the violence levels come down AFSPA has to be removed saying militancy has come down. Not by saying army is the problem. The sepratists will keep harping their own agenda but the govt. has to enforce the perception that the reason AFSPA was removed was because militancy has come down.
I appreciate your sentiments and if I did not have the experience of operating in J&K, I may have held the same opinions.
I would like to state that be it the Army or the paramilitary forces, the task they are doing is the same, when they are called out to quell disturbances or enforce the writ of the State. It is also important to note that they do so, not on their own, but when ordered out by the Government, which has taken a considered view and are aware of the consequences.
The AFSPA has two interesting aspects:
1. Allows detention but it also states that the person held has to be handed over to the earliest. The issue is what is 'earliest'? AFSPA is not J&K centric. In J&K and in the NE, there are remote areas and one has to move on foot and it may take days to come to the Police Station to hand over the terrorist.
When a terrorist is apprehended, there has to be some interrogation by trained people so that vital information that could have immediate disastrous effect is known and action taken to prevent it.
Can this time be quantified?
2. Search without warrant. If one awaits a warrant, then the terrorists not apprehended can do their dastardly acts since no interrogation can take place to glean information of immediate value.
The mobs cannot be set loose in rural area since it is not possible to 'hire a mob' which is what Geelani does. And in rural areas, there are neither TV reporters nor anything worthwhile to destroy or burn! Therefore, the terrorists, who want high profile acts, can do so in urban areas and that too in large towns alone.
Lastly, I don't take it as an Army centric issue. It is applicable for all SF who are to restore the writ of the State.
AFSPA may have been imposed temporarily. Has the militancy abated? It is now a proxy war where Geelani and cahoots are the proxy of the proxy. Therefore, should the Govt allow the proxies to take over the acts of the terrorists, who are themselves the proxy of Pakistan and the ISI?
One thing that should be borne in mind is that Kashmir is open to all, international and domestic. Ask Geelani, who is so vociferous about Kashmir being in siege, would he be able to raise Cain in POK or Northern Areas? In fact, the Northern Area is closed to all! What has this man to say about that when he criticises India and claims that there is no democracy in India. The very fact that he can air his jaundiced views is an indication that India is too tolerant and her democracy is vibrant. An unelected oaf that he is, he claims he is the representative of the people of J&K. Megalomania at its zenith!
Protesters have been shot. That is one sided view. What has the protestors been at? Any news reporter mentioning that? No. It is not man bites dog! Areas beyond the Valley may have been peaceful, but have you wondered how come it has suddenly got active? Look deep. There are good reasons to believe that Pakistan and ISI, having come under the scanner and exposed with the US papers being exposed and their shenanigans exposed had to turn the heat on India. Therefore, this sudden upsurge with paid agents like the Mirwaiz and Geelani. Now, if there is a rumour of the Koran being burnt in the US, what can the Omar govt or MMS do? Attack the US? So why take it out on them? Look deep.