Jammu and Kashmir after the Ceasefire
Maj Gen Sanjeev Dogra (Retd)
The guns may have fallen silent along the Line of Control, but for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the echoes of conflict still reverberate through their daily lives. The ceasefire that ended Operation Sindoor – India’s decisive response to the Pahalgam terror attack – has brought temporary relief to border villages that endured weeks of relentless shelling and small arms fire. While the nation celebrates the military’s successful degradation of terror infrastructure across the border, the resilient people of J&K know better than anyone that true peace requires more than just a signed agreement – it demands unshakable unity and constant vigilance against the forces that have plagued this beautiful land for decades.
For generations, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have borne the brunt of geography and history – caught between the harsh realities of mountainous terrain and the even harsher reality of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. During the recent conflict, urban residents faced the familiar dread of security lockdowns and the ever-present threat of terrorist strikes, while border villagers endured the terrifying rhythm of artillery duels that forced families to abandon homes and fields. Tourism, the lifeblood of many communities, came to a standstill just as the vital summer season began. Yet through it all, the indomitable spirit of Kashmiriyat – that unique blend of resilience and communal harmony – shone through as Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs alike opened their doors to displaced neighbors and supported security forces in maintaining order.
The days ahead will test this unity as never before. Pakistan’s history of using ceasefires to regroup terrorist proxies means vigilance cannot waver, even as schools reopen and markets return to life. The successful conduct of the Amarnath Yatra will be both a practical challenge and a powerful symbol of normalcy’s return. Psychological scars will take time to heal, particularly for border children who have grown up knowing only conflict, and for traders whose livelihoods remain hostage to geopolitical tensions. Yet if history has shown anything, it is that the people of J&K possess an extraordinary capacity to rebuild – provided they stand together against those who would divide them.
The lessons of this latest conflict are clear and uncompromising. Terrorism has brought only suffering, while development and dialogue offer the only path to prosperity. The government’s firm handling of overground workers must be matched by community rejection of radical ideologies. New threats like drone-dropped weapons and cyber warfare demand new defenses – better surveillance, quicker response protocols, and tech-savvy vigilance. Border communities particularly need training in emergency response, from first aid to evacuation procedures. Most importantly, the era of passive victimhood must end – every citizen has a role to play in safeguarding the peace they’ve yearned for so long.
Local institutions now face their most critical test. Panchayats must transform from administrative bodies into engines of community resilience, identifying vulnerabilities and coordinating responses. Schools should integrate practical security awareness alongside regular curriculum, creating a generation as alert as they are educated. Religious leaders have a particular responsibility to counter extremist narratives that prey on youthful frustration. The administration must move swiftly to compensate conflict victims, upgrade border infrastructure, and revive the tourism economy through visible security reassurances.
For ordinary citizens, the path forward requires both courage and commonsense. Shopkeepers reopening their stalls, students attending classes, laborers returning to orchards – these everyday acts become revolutionary in a land accustomed to disruption. Communities must develop their own early warning networks, reporting suspicious activity without hesitation while resisting the poison of rumor-mongering. The formula is simple but powerful: unity in diversity, suspicion toward none but vigilance toward all threats.
Here, Jammu’s 50,000-strong ex-servicemen community can be game-changers. These battle-hardened veterans bring unique skills – from organizing neighborhood watch programs to training youth in emergency response. As trusted intermediaries between security forces and civilians, they can build bridges of understanding where distrust once grew. Their homes can become community hubs for security awareness, their smartphones networked into local alert systems. Most importantly, they embody the fighting spirit that refuses to surrender to terror – a living example for younger generations.
As dawn breaks over the Pir Panjal mountains, Jammu and Kashmir stand at a crossroads familiar yet fundamentally different. The ceasefire offers breathing space, but lasting peace will come only when every citizen – Hindu, Muslim, Sikh; urban and rural; young and old – embraces their role as guardians of this hard-won calm. Let the world see what true Kashmiriyat means: not the false narrative of victimhood peddled by adversaries, but the unbreakable will of a people who choose books over bullets, unity over division, and tomorrow over yesterday. The enemy should hear this message loud and clear – the people of Jammu and Kashmir are done with terror. Their future will be written in schools and orchards, not bunkers and graves. And should the guns roar again, they’ll stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their protectors, defending not just land, but an idea – that the most beautiful valley on earth deserves the most peaceful future imaginable.
(The author is a retired army officer from Jammu)
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