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According to sources, the local populace has grown weary of militancy and is now actively seeking peace and development
The void left by the Army will be filled by paramilitary forces. Representational pic/PTI
The Centre has decided to reduce the number of Indian Army personnel deployed in the urban, semi-urban, and interior areas of Jammu and Kashmir, CNN-News18 has learnt. This marks a strategic shift in the security paradigm of the region, which has been under heavy military presence for decades.
According to government sources, the specialised counter-insurgency units of the Rashtriya Rifles will be gradually withdrawn from towns and cities in Kashmir and will be repositioned to focus exclusively on securing the borders. The void left by the Army will be filled by paramilitary forces. Specifically, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will be tasked with maintaining law and order in the towns and cities, while their units will be stationed in the interior settlements to manage local security needs.
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This decision is seen as a direct consequence of the improved security situation in the union territory, a development the government attributes to the abrogation of Article 370 sections in August 2019. The removal of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was followed by a massive deployment of security forces to prevent any large-scale unrest. Now, five years on, the government believes the situation has stabilised to a point where a scaled-back military presence is feasible, sources say.
The clarification from government sources comes on the back of widespread speculation that the troop movement in J&K is a sign that restoration of statehood is in the offing.
According to them, the local populace has grown weary of militancy and is now actively seeking peace and development. Therefore, the Army’s role, which was once crucial for counterinsurgency in these areas, is no longer deemed necessary. The new arrangement allows the Army to return to its primary role of protecting the nation’s borders, while the CRPF, with its expertise in handling internal security and law enforcement, takes the lead on the ground. This transition is being seen as a major step towards demilitarisation and a sign that a new, more peaceful era has begun in Jammu and Kashmir.
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