The saga of insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir has largely been dominated by the Valley narrative. The twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in the Jammu region have always been a footnote to Kashmir’s turbulent history of Partition, militancy and militarisation. However, these districts have refused to stay neglected. Periodic yet intriguing developments vis-a-vis the security situation speak of a different social and political dynamic at work in these border districts, peopled by a complex mosaic of religious, ethnic and linguistic communities — in contrast to the largely Muslim Valley.

Over the last couple of years, the region has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. In 2023 alone, Rajouri, Poonch and Reasi districts in the Jammu region reportedly witnessed the deaths of 55 individuals, including 20 security personnel and 28 terrorists. The year commenced on an ominous note when seven civilians were killed at Dangri, Rajouri on January 1. In the early years of militancy in the 1990s, the districts of Rajouri and Poonch were essentially used to access the Valley, cutting across the Pir Panjal range by exploiting the terrain for concealed movement. Targeted militancy-related incidents in this belt date back to 1996-97. By then, pro-independence elements and local militant leadership had been replaced by foreign tanzeems like Hizbul Mujahideen, Harkat-Ul-Ansar and Lashkar-e-Toiba. Since then, this region has been a “fallback option” for the terror groups and their handlers in Pakistan whenever........

© Indian Express