Opinion | Jawan Aur Awam Aman Hai Mukam

Kashmir is a place where we receive respect, honour, and dignity. The people here love us more than in any other state. They are noble, hospitable, and truly lovable.” — A retired Army officer on the people of Kashmir

Local engagement with the Indian Army is very important. It not only provides moral support but also physical and social assistance. One of the most harmful influences in our society is treating the Army as a separate entity, which leads to their isolation and creates a sense of difference.

The slogan “Jaawan Aur Awaam Aman Hai Muqam” initiative was most successful in curbing social evils, one of the worst being violence, turmoil, and the killing of innocent people. This initiative was launched by the Indian Army to coordinate with the people and bridge the gap between the Jaawan (Army soldiers) and Awaam (commoners) in order to work for the well-being and prosperity of Kashmir. It has yielded very good results, bringing peace and prosperity to Kashmir after a long time. It has also mitigated the differences between soldiers and commoners in Kashmir to a large extent.

The Army has taken up various people-oriented objectives to build sound relationships with the community. These initiatives have provided relief and helped maintain stability in turbulent circumstances. However, the previous and current years have seen a minimal relationship between the Army and civilians, leading to some confusion. The bond we witnessed during the turmoil showed that the Army was specially treated and respected. Today, very few public events are being organized by the Army, and this separation has surprised many people. At the same time, militant actions have increased, which was also unexpected.

What I believe is that if the Army were to be removed from Kashmir, within days it would become like Afghanistan, and a spree of killings would occur, reminiscent of the circumstances in the 1990s—not because of the Kashmiri people, but due to countries providing shelter and assistance to terrorist groups. From what we see in the newspapers today, the situation in Kashmir is quite different post-abrogation, and the people do not want to indulge in this mess. Militancy from the Kashmiri side is almost nonexistent, while from across the border, it is regaining strength. Without any second thought, they are launching significant attacks, even without the support of the local population.

Again, the gap between Jawaan and Awaam is crucial now because militants are primarily active either on the borders or through infiltrated routes, which could spread into villages where we need common support. Our Army cannot hit the target unless it identifies the militants. What needs to be done is to maintain the relationship between Jawaan and Awaam, bridge the gap, analyze the importance of societal issues, and work on them.

Truly speaking, Kashmir has lost significantly and does not want to lose any more, as it has experienced the support of various countries and their credibility. I am not against any country; I am against violence, terrorism, innocent killings, and turmoil. I want to see my child in school, my business running, my state peaceful, and my home happy—without tension and without depression.

The Army has a role; it has brought peace to the valley, controlled mobs most of the time, maintained relationships with civilians, and made people feel safe and secure. Now, the future must focus on eliminating violence, and its heroes must feel proud. The main objective is to achieve peace and prosperity, and the Army has a significant role in bringing and maintaining it.

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