The confidence-building measures (CBMs) of unilateral ceasefire against terrorists during Ramzan announced by Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Kashmir and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s amnesty to nearly 10,000 stone-pelters have failed to yield the desired results as incidents of grenade tossing and stone-pelting at security forces have increased after these steps were taken.

A number of security forces personnel have been injured in incidents of grenade tossing at them by terrorists and the stone-pelters are also virtually ruling the roost on the streets of the Valley where tourists are also not spared.

By letting free the stone-pelters, Mehbooba might have to some extent regained her eroded political ground in the Valley, but the BJP has dented its image in its bastion in Jammu where majority of people have raised their voice against the “appeasement” of the anti-national elements.

Pakistan army and Rangers have also stepped up bids of infiltrating armed terrorists through the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC).

Although the top three separatists, Syed Alishah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik, had responded with certain conditions to the Centre’s offer for talks but they were continuing to spew venom against the security forces and thereby inciting the miscreants to attack army and CRPF personnel.

A top functionary of J-K on the condition of anonymity said that the government has miserably failed to tackle the separatist leaders who were vitiating the atmosphere in the state by issuing hate statements against India.

A proposal had reportedly been put forth for shifting the separatists to jails outside the state as their occasional house arrest was just a cosmetic exercise as even during detention, Geelani has been issuing “objectionable” statements and also addressing through phone the gatherings at funerals of terrorists and others killed during encounters with security forces.

Rajnath Singh is expected to visit Kashmir this week to take stock of the situation for further extending the ceasefire. However, his deputy Hansraj Ahir has warned that the Ramzan ceasefire would be withdrawn if things did not improve.

Security experts have already expressed concern on halting anti-militancy operations at a time when the army and other security forces had achieved dominance over the terrorists by eliminating a number of top commanders of Pakistan-backed terrorist outfits.

The number of youth joining the militant ranks has increased ever since the ceasefire was announced. Pulwama and Shopian in south Kashmir has become the hub of recruitment of fresh terrorists. Reports indicate that at least 20 Kashmiri youth joined militancy last month and among them was a Unani doctor who is the brother of an IPS officer. About 16 youth were missing from their homes and the intelligence agencies were verifying whether they have picked up the gun.

The separatists are believed to have sent signals of encouragement to the local youth to join militancy by allowing Junaid Ashraf Sehrai, a MBA degree holder, join terrorism. He is son of Geelani’s successor Mohammad Ashraf Serhai, chairman of the pro-Pakistan Tehreek-e-Hurriyat.

Mehbooba, who is considered soft towards the separatists, on Sunday  asked them to accept the talks offer of the Centre and save Kashmir from bloodshed. Dialogue is the only way forward to pull Kashmir out of the current crisis, she told PDP activists.