On a freezing January night in the remote Gurez Valley, an Army patrol heard desperate knocks on the gates of their post. A young father stood there holding his two-year-old son who was gasping for breath due to severe pneumonia. Heavy snow had blocked the roads, making it impossible for any ambulance to reach the hospital. Without hesitation, the soldiers brought the child to their medical room, provided oxygen, and evacuated him the next morning on a helicopter. The boy survived not because a modern hospital was nearby but because the Indian Army became his only hope of life. Incidents like these are not rare. In Jammu and Kashmir, the Army is far more than a military presence; it is a guardian, a rescuer, a teacher, and a partner in development. Over the decades, amidst cross-border tensions, internal disturbances, natural calamities, and extreme terrain, the Army has stood firm not just as the defender of frontiers but as the lifeline of millions of civilians who depend on its presence.
The bond between the Army and the people of Jammu and Kashmir goes back to the early years of independent India. In October 1947, when armed groups backed by Pakistan advanced into Kashmir, plundering villages and threatening Srinagar, the Indian Army responded with one of the most daring operations in history. The landing of the first Sikh Regiment at Srinagar Airport changed the course of events and ensured that the Valley remained with India. Since then, the Army’s role in the region has been distinct. Unlike many other states, Jammu and Kashmir has consistently faced three simultaneous challenges: cross-border infiltration attempts, the presence of radicalized groups, and extremely harsh geographical conditions. From defending icy posts on the Siachen Glacier, the highest battlefield in the world, to maintaining peace in towns and villages, soldiers here have been tested in the most demanding environments. Yet, their duty has gone beyond security; it has also been about enabling civilians to live with dignity, opportunity, and hope.
The Army’s foremost responsibility in Jammu and Kashmir has been to safeguard people from terrorism and external threats. Since the rise of militancy in 1989, soldiers have carried out regular patrols across villages and towns to deny armed groups any safe havens and to reassure locals of their safety. They coordinate closely with the Jammu and Kashmir Police, paramilitary forces, and intelligence agencies, forming a multilayered grid that has been instrumental in bringing peace to the region. Operations such as the one in Surankote forests in 2003 dismantled dangerous hubs that had been threatening nearby residents. Over the past decade, incidents of violence have steadily reduced, with infiltration attempts falling by nearly half since 2016. For the common people, this has translated into a more normal life sending children to school without fear, opening shops with confidence, and celebrating weddings without the constant anxiety of sudden strikes.
The Army has also been a bridge of trust and an enabler of aspirations. It has encouraged cultural exchange through youth tours to cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore, allowing young boys and girls to experience India’s diversity and break stereotypes. A shining example is Rukhsana Kausar, a young woman from Rajouri who, with the Army’s support, stood up to an armed intruder in 2009. She later said her courage came from seeing soldiers standing firmly with villagers. The Army’s contribution to development has been equally significant. Roads built by the Border Roads Organisation have cut through treacherous mountains, bringing schools, markets, and hospitals closer to far-flung villages. Improved security has revived tourism, with over 18 million visitors in 2022, offering fresh livelihood opportunities to locals. Soldiers have also helped extend electricity and communication lines to remote villages, carrying poles and wires across rivers and peaks so that homes once in darkness now glow with light.
From the daring airlifts of 1947 to the relief efforts during the 2014 floods, from teaching children under Operation Sadbhavana to rescuing tourists trapped in avalanches, the Army has embedded itself in the social fabric of the region. For the people, the sight of a soldier in olive green is not only a reminder of security but also a symbol of life, dignity, and assurance. The Army is more than a defender of borders; it represents unity in diversity, resilience in adversity, and above all, the unbreakable bond between soldiers and the civilians they protect. To the people of Jammu and Kashmir, it truly remains a lifeline an institution that stands with them in hardship, shares their joys, and safeguards their future.
