What next in Kashmir? That is the question uppermost in everyone’s mind. There are apprehensions that violence may increase, distrust may deepen and alienation of the local populace may grow further. All sorts of theories are doing the rounds.

Amid this uncertainty, all eyes are now on Governor Narinder Nath Vohra. The gubernatorial skills of the 82-year-old Governor will be put to test against the challenge posed by terror mechanism which is increasingly becoming local youth centric. N N Vohra will require all his experience and skills to tackle the menace that the valley has become of late.
 The Central government has appointed two officers of high caliber whose experience will also be put to challenge.

Chhatisgarh additional Chief Secretary    B V R Subramanium has been appointed as the J&K Chief Secretary. He has a good record of working on development projects in naxal affected areas. He has also worked with the previous Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The other officer is the former IPS officer Vijay Kumar who eliminated the notorious sandalwood smuggler Verappan in 2004.  The combination of these two officers and the rich experience of the octogenarian Governor have a well defined tough work to bring peace and semblance in the state, the Kashmir valley in particular.

The first and the foremost challenge before the Governor is the Amarnath Yatra. The two-month long pilgrimage to the 3,880 meter high cave shrine of Amarnath will commence on June 28th .The yatra is on the threat list of terrorists. Intelligence reports have indicated that both Laskar and JeM cadres will try to attack the yatra. Last year on July 10th Lashkar attacked a bus carrying Amarnath pilgrims in which 8 pilgrims were killed and 18 injured.  This threat perception has made the government to go for heavy deployment of security forces on the yatra route.

The central government has made it clear that the security forces will be aggressive with their operations against the terror groups.  In the first high-level security review meeting after the Governor’s rule was imposed in the state on Wednesday, Governor asked the security forces to "end terror" without worrying about any political hindrance in the state. As per sources, Vohra said that ‘now, the time is to work for the people of the state, as the country has high hopes.’

There have been allegations that the local political dispensation in the valley was creating hindrance in the terror operations. Even the DGP of J&K police S P Vaid said on Wednesday that now it will be easier for them to work. As part of the crackdown on the terror groups, it is expected that investigations in the terror funding cases against the Hurriyat and other separatist organizations will now proceed vigorously. The stone pelters are said to be receiving funds from Pakistan and a few other foreign based sources. The aim of the government is to snap the funding and further expose the malicious agenda of the separatist groups. There are expectations that investigations into the terror funding cases will finally see speed.

One of the foremost challenges before the centre and the state administration is to pursue developmental projects in whole of the state. In all these three years of BJP and PDP rule, the fairly peaceful regions of Jammu and Ladakh have cried foul. People here allege that developmental activities have not taken up. Now with the Governor rule in the centre, the Modi government at the centre will be directly held responsible for the development or lack of it. It is in keeping with this sentiment that the Governor and the center are seeking a review of all the central and PM’s projects and schemes.
The challenge in Kashmir for the centre and its nominee Governor in Kashmir are multifold. Terrorism, growing radicalization of the youth, insecurity and lack of developmental and employment activities are core concern areas. Frequent stone pelting and terror attacks have had a grave impact on the tourism sector. This is considered as the peak season for tourism in the valley but with ongoing terror violence, tourist numbers have dwindled.

Will the state see a settling period or will the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections of 2019 see the state falling into a political ball game? The common man on the street in the state is worried but for the politicians in and outside the state, the times ahead could well see a political battle on the name of Kashmir in the rest of the country.