Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (retd), who commanded the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps (15 Corps) from 2010 to 2012, tells Awaaz South Asia that the best strategy against Pakistan's designs in Kashmir is outreach to the people of Kashmir Valley to make them “fully motivated Indians.”

Q: In Jammu and Kashmir, the government has already made operational two new vital tunnels across the Pir Panjal range- Qazigund-Banihal road and railway tunnels. The work on the strategic Zojila tunnel is also on and its first phase is expected to be ready early next year. How do you see all these developmental projects impacting the lives of the people of the region in the long run?

A: Development projects in border states mostly have both welfare and strategic security built into most of them. While enhancing the quality of life of the people they need to ensure that security is not compromised but enhanced. The three tunnels are aimed to provide one thing that the people of J&K and Ladakh have lacked for many years; 24x7x365 connectivity. The construction and completion of the tunnels will open the potential for movement of people and goods/material through the lean winter months when even baby food and cooking gas sometimes becomes unavailable. Tourism throughout the year can be affordable since movement by air is usually frightfully expensive in the tourist season. With greater influx of tourism, Kashmir will need higher numbers and better quality facilities to exploit the enhanced potential made possible by ease of transportation. Provided that the people do not fall prey to machinations from Pakistan and separatist elements, Kashmir can also be the hub of high-quality education once transportation is eased.

Traditional winter stocking of Ladakh can be shared between Jammu and Srinagar once rail connectivity is through. Supply chains can emanate from these hubs.

Q. What in your view is the strategic importance of these vital road and rail projects, particularly the Zojila tunnel?

A: All three tunnels have a huge strategic impact. The aspect of winter stocking for the civil population and the armed forces has already been commented upon. Turnover of forces in Ladakh in particular need not be hurried through just six months and the moves can be undertaken at most times although induction to operational deployment areas would yet be restricted.

Pressure on the roads will ease due to the spread of movement and response time for reserve formations would also shorten with consequent pressure on air transportation resources also being put to more optimum use.

Although winter operations are limited by the climatic conditions any attempts by adversaries to achieve surprise could be responded to with greater surety of surface communication routes being open through the year. Battle strategy is always based upon movement of reserves in the appropriate time frame to the right point of deployment. The tunnels and the railways project will definitely act as force multipliers with Pakistan in particular having to review many of its assessments on Indian response.

Q. The Gurez-Drass link road is also being upgraded to provide an alternate connectivity to Ladakh region. It could boost tourism in Gurez. Does this road also have strategic importance?

A: The issue of Gurez, its strategic significance, tourist potential and welfare of the people who reside there, has hardly ever been touched upon by strategic analysts who otherwise focus on Kashmir. It’s a detached area north of the Shamshabari Range and on the Great Himalayan range. My comment must first include a few words on it, otherwise it will be incomplete.

To reach Gurez one has to drive from Srinagar via Bandipora over the Razdan Pass, which like the Zojila Pass is closed in winter. Forbidden for many years owing to its proximity to the LoC, this valley has now opened up to emerge as one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in the entire Kashmir sub region. It was a preferred route of terrorist infiltration at one time but for many years the central and eastern part of the valley stretching up to Nilu and Kaobal Gali has not witnessed any infiltration. Kaobal Gali is a high-altitude mountain pass connecting Gurez Valley and the Mushkoh Valley on the Kargil side. From Mushkoh one can drive or trek to Drass and catch the regular National Highway to Kargil and Leh. This alignment may be perceived as strategic in nature and if developed will need to be militarily secured through summer or the campaigning season.

No doubt Gurez Valley has great significance for the security of Kashmir, Its 30,000 population needs a boost in its welfare and development, including infrastructure, education, medical facilities and earning potential. Anti-national trends have been very low there and if any it is only for economic reasons; guidance of terrorist groups through the difficult terrain has been a trend, although low key. There is an affinity of the Shin/Dard people who reside here, with the people on the other side of the LoC; the population centres of Astor, Minamarg and Rattu. There is huge development potential in the area and it can be one of the most attractive hiking and mountain driving routes of Kashmir.

Q. Now that the security environment has apparently improved in the region particularly the Kashmir valley, are we seeing a lasting trend? If not, what in your opinion are the remaining threats?

A: Can the current stability and low turbulence endure in Kashmir to allow these areas to flourish and be fully integrated? The government is making a serious effort at bringing development into this region and achieving greater integration through that route. There has been quantum improvement in living standards but perhaps greater focus on rural development is needed, and in particular the areas closer to the LoC need more energetic administration. These are remote areas where Border Development Projects (BADP) have been invested in without too much payoff. The civil administration needs more resources here than in the flat areas of the Valley. I remember a time when lower-level administrators in the border tehsils did not even have transport and depended on the Army to move and visit certain villages.

While some great and visible efforts are ongoing in the Valley per se, I recommend a greater administrative and development footprint for the border tehsils and remote areas to ensure that those populations which have traditionally been our supporters continue to thrive and improve their quality of life; that adds to security potential too.