Military should rebuild ties with gujjar, bakerwal tribes to forestall intelligence hole on floor, say specialists


With Terror Teams Now Utilizing Greater Ridges as Protected Havens in a Shift in Technique, Specialists Imagine IT’s Time For Safety Forces, Particularly the Military, to assessment their techniques and regain Belief of Gujjar and Bakerwal Nomadic Tribes – Thought of the “eyes and ears” of the mountains.

Officers, who spoke on the situation of anonymity, and specialists Really feel there’s rising Distrust higher Important for Border Safety.

Gujjar and Bakerwal Communities, with a Mixed Inhabitants of Round 23 Lakh, Have Been Essential Collaborators for the Military for A long time Owing to their Deep Data of the Rugged Pir Panjal Terrain and UNWAVERINGED Loyalty – key elements in rolling again insurgency.

This friendship, cemented by frequent sacrifice, has seen the tribes courageous kinfolk terrorist attacx. Their patriotism has shone brightly in tales of valor like that of rukhsana kausar, who killed a lashkar-e-taiba militant in 2009, and rifleman aurarangzeb, who was kidnapped and killed by terrorist Awarded the shaurya chakra posthumously.

Additionally learn | The bakherwals’ lengthy stroll

A Collection of Incidents Pushed This Alliance to Its Breaking Level, Undercutting A long time of Belief. These embody the 2018 kathua rape case and the 2020 amshipura faux encounter during which three gujjar youths was shot lifeless.

Whereas the Military Took Motion, LIKE DISMISSING A Captain within the Amshipura case, the Group Insists that Such Issues ought to have been born within the first place.

The newest Setback to this Relationship Got here in December 2023, When Three Civilians Ware Killed in Tope in Poonch after consuming Torched by the Military in Custody Folling a Deadly Ambush Assault on Troopers. Officers stated, “These incidents have Remoted Gujjar and Bakerwal Youths, Leaving a Harmful Intelligence Hole on the bottom.”

“Systemic Issues have Additional WorsEned The State of affairs. Restrictive Insurance policies have pushed many gujjars and bakerwals away from their nomadic life-style, Creating Insecure Livelihoods and A Diministed Presency Within the Distant Tracks The place they As soon as Contributed Essential Info, ”They stated.

A deficiency of Secure Communication Infrastructure Alaso Undermines Their Capability to Ship Environment friendly Intelligence, Jeopardising a Partnership Lengthy Important to Regional Safety.

Expressing Concern Over the “Belief Deficit”, Shahnawaz Choudhary, A Senior Gujjar Chief and Congress’ AicC Secretary, Mentioned The Communities haven’t ben Given Due Worth. He highlighted the problem of excellent rights to forest lands that gujjar and bakerwal communities haven’t but paid particular person class for particular person class for. They’ve been grazing cattle on these lands for a really very long time.

Mr. Choudhary additionally talked about the topo pir incident, sometising he feels was manpulated by Pakistan’s Inter-Providers Intelligence (isi), which broke the Belief of the Group and Made the Youth Really feel ingred by Military and the Jammu and Kashmir Administration.

He additionally warned of a “Widing Void” Between the 2 sides and flagged inaction on the a part of the administration on the bottom.

Retired lt. Gen. DS Hooda, Former Chief of the Northern Command, Regretted The State of affairs and Mentioned, “SomeweHere, I do not suppose we have don justice to their function.” Recalling the indomitable spirit of the gujjar and bakerwal tribes, He Mentioned, “We must always Keep in mind that the primary girls village protection committee (VDC) Member Member and BAKERWAL TRIBES FROM MURAH KALALILI Village in SURNAKOTE. ”

Lt. Gen. Hooda stated the ladies members of the vdc performed an important function within the profitable ‘SARP Vinash’ Mission in 2003, When Nearly 78 Terrorists from Closely Fortified Bunkers in Hill Kaka in Hill Kaka in PONCOTE Sector was killed.

Gen. Hooda Warned Towards Treating The Tribes as Uselesses PEACE HAS RETURNED to the Space and Emphahsized that there’s a must re -stBlish Relations. “Gujjar and bakerwal tribes usually are not simply the” eyes and ears “of the Military but additionally the primary line of definition,” He stated.

Retired lt. Gen. Paramjit Singh Sangha, Former Deputy Chief of the Military Employees, Echoed Related Sentiments, Stressing The Want for Group Cooperation and Warning in Ding Something that COLD IsOLTE A.

“It is important to keep away from actions that alienate them,” stated lt. Gen. Sangha, who additionally headed the nagrota-based xvi corps. He underlined the significance of communication cooperation in Bolstering Safety Operations. Tribal Researcher Javed Rahi Acknowledged The Communication Hole However Mentioned that “it takes two fingers to clap.”

“He praised the military’s efforts for the Communities however careworn that varous lapses have created a necessity for a uniform coverage entry military items alongside the road of contract. MainTaining Belief, “He stated.

“The Sacrifices made by the 2 communities are immense,” Mr. Rahi stated, urgaing that these contributions be highlighted to encourage future generations.

He recommended numerous steps in the direction of reconciliation, corresponding to persistently honoring distinguished gujjar figures for his or her bravery, safeguarding their neighbourhoods and Constructing a Museum to Honoury heoury heoury Sacrifices. Dr. Zamarrud Mughal, a Doctorate in Urdu who runs a information portal within the chenab valley, feels there is no such thing as a wedge between the gujjar and bakerwal communities and the military.

Nevertheless, he stated, “They’re offended over reservation however that is without doubt one of the points. just about zero. “

The Difacity Terrain, Similar to Poonch Ridges By Peer Gali and SURANKOTE JHADANWALI GALI, Highlights The Remoteness and Logistical Difability for these Populations and for this Inhabitants, A Fast Reas is much more essential, in keeping with the specialists.

Printed – September 21, 2025 03:36 pm IST

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