Listening to the Border
In the Lok Sabha session on July 28 and 29, during the special debate on Operation Sindoor, three members of Parliament from Jammu and Kashmir spoke not just as politicians, but as voices of pain and reality. Their words, emotional, pointed, reminded the country of something many forget: that the people living on the border are not only witnesses to violence, but participants in national security. They are not just civilians, but eyes, ears, and allies of the country, more so in J&K, where all attempts by narcotic dealers, smugglers, and terrorists are made from across the border.
It is easy, in air-conditioned newsrooms, conferences halls and distant cities, to discuss terror attacks in Kashmir, but for those who live on the borders, like the Gujjars, Bakerwals, and Paharis who live in places like Poonch, Rajouri, Kupwara, and Uri, facing intermittent terrorism, shelling, and sometimes movements of unwanted persons. And yet, even though the peak of militancy, terrorism, and narcotic smuggling in the 1990s and early twenties, these communities have stood by the security forces, often at great personal risk. They have provided information, fed troops, and sometimes, as in many known and unknown cases, given their lives for the country. Even in the Kargil war, the first information of the intruder’s presence was given by the local shepherds. In doing so, they have shown a kind of patriotism that is quiet but powerful. But are we listening to them?
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking in Parliament on July 30, announced that the three terrorists responsible for the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 innocent tourists, had been eliminated in an operation named Mahadev in the Dachigam forest. The trio, Suleiman alias Faisal Jatt, Afghan, and Jibran were confirmed to have infiltrated from Pakistan. This is a huge success and achievement for the security forces. The operation brought closure to the horrific event that had shocked the entire country and showed, once again, the lengths to which Pakistan-based groups can go to derail peace in the Valley. The happiest people will be people living on the borders, as this will bring a little relief for the tense inhabitants. But now that the enemy has been neutralised, the bigger question remains: what are we doing to help those who live between the line of fire and the line of control?
Border communities in Jammu and Kashmir face a double threat. One is man-made: cross-border shelling, narcotic smuggling, and violence. The other comes from nature: harsh winters, mountain floods, avalanches, and landslides. Nature itself becomes a danger because old landmines often get dislodged and move due to shifting terrain, leading to injuries to livestock, children, and soldiers alike. Any policy for the border must account for both these dangers. More bunkers, better roads, emergency response systems, animal shelters, and mobile medical units are needed, not as charity, but as national infrastructure.
A Strong Relationship: Soldiers and Shepherds
In the hills of Jammu and Kashmir, the Gujjars and Bakerwals are more than just nomadic tribes. They are people who have lived with soldiers, guided them through treacherous terrain, and shared their food and shelter with them. Their trust in the army and the army’s reliance on them is a living partnership that has lasted for decades. Many jawans themselves come from these communities. Any hint of mistrust between the security forces and these people must be avoided at all costs. If that link is broken, either by overreach or by neglect, it will be a loss not just of trust, but of crucial ground-level intelligence. Unfortunately, a couple of recent incidents and developments threaten this bond.
What the MPs Said: Voices from the Ground
MP Mian Altaf from Anantnag-Rajouri, in his emotional speech, described how people across the Valley mourned the killings in Pahalgam. He told the House how, in Poonch and Rajouri, civilians, including children and the elderly, had died in cross-border shelling. The town of Poonch, he said, turned into a ghost town. “Such devastation was not seen even during the wars of 1965 or 1971,” he added.
He raised another troubling issue of a Gujjar youth named Pervez, who was allegedly killed in police firing. The member of parliament demanded a full investigation and warned that if justice were not served, people’s faith in the administration would weaken. Let these words by concerned authorities not go unheard or as an isolated incident. His experience and leadership should be utilised by the authorities to be a part of the solution in fostering trust. He also demanded improved emergency infrastructure and connectivity, asking for even rail links to Poonch and Rajouri to bring these regions closer to the rest of the country. His message was clear: don’t forget the border citizens after the operation is over. Their wounds remain.
Another young voice of the youth, Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah took the debate a step further. While condemning the terror attack in Pahalgam, he questioned the aftermath. According to him, hundreds of civilians were detained and a few houses demolished on mere suspicion. He called it disproportionate action that created more fear than trust. Ruhullah pointed out that such measures push innocent Kashmiris into the shadows of suspicion and weaken democracy, security and trust. He also highlighted an important point of providing security and assurance to those Kashmiris living outside J&K, who mostly comprise students and businesspeople. He highlighted a few cases of Kashmiris being harassed in places like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh after the Pahalgam incident. “Is this justice? Are we citizens or suspects?” he asked. While his speech was met with resistance from some members, the larger question he raised cannot be ignored: Are we mistaking heavy-handedness for strength?
The third member of Parliament, Engineer Abdul Rashid, from Baramulla, North Kashmir and currently on custody parole, perhaps delivered another important message in the session. Quoting Islamic texts, he called the Pahalgam killings “the murder of all humanity.” But then he turned inward, speaking not just as a politician but as a Kashmiri who had lived through decades of death. “We are tired of graveyards,” he said. Rashid asked both the ruling party and the opposition to stop politicising Kashmir and start humanising it. “Talk, not for politics, but for people,” he said. These were not just words. They were a reminder that behind every headline, there are people. People who live, cry, die, and still hope.
What Needs to Be Done
Now that the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack are dead, separatism and terrorism are vanishing, the government must focus on something equally important: healing and rebuilding trust with the people. Trauma counselling should be made available, especially for children and women. We need psychologists, Psychiatrists, Counsellors, peer support workers, along with troops in the border areas who could be mental caregivers for the community.
Emergency Relief: Families affected by shelling and attacks must receive timely and adequate compensation. Incidents like the alleged killing of Pervez must not happen again, and be investigated transparently. The rule of law must apply to all, including security forces and police.
Permanent Infrastructure: Bunkers, medical centres, mobile health clinics, veterinary care for livestock, and disaster shelters should be standard infrastructure along border villages. As Mian Altaf said, connecting Rajouri and Poonch by rail will do more than ease travel. It will symbolically and practically integrate these regions into the national mainstream.
One of the most important steps is that security operations must be intelligence-led, not suspicion-led. Every action must balance the fight against terrorism with the rights of citizens who should always feel respected and dignified. Engagement and Representation are most crucial. Local communities, especially the Gujjars and Bakerwals, should be regularly consulted and included in decision-making processes on the borders, especially security.
They are the best judges of their own needs and the best security line for the area who understand the rugged and difficult area better, as they are the local inhabitants. The people of the border should never be seen as a burden. They are a national asset. Their knowledge of the terrain, their commitment to peace, and their partnership with security forces make them a frontline defence. But that asset will only remain strong if nurtured with trust, respect, and inclusion. Let no power, internal or external, come between the soldier and the shepherd, the officer and the border villager. Their bond is our real victory, which has existed since our country’s Independence from British rule. We must also take a step back and ask: what next for the people who live on the margins of peace and conflict.
Surinder Singh Oberoi,
National Editor Greater Kashmir
