Experts Urge Army to Strengthen Ties with Gujjar, Bakerwal Tribes to Boost Ground Intelligence

Speedy Summary

• Terror groups have shifted strategies by using higher ridges as safe havens, prompting calls for the Indian Army to review tactics.
• A growing mistrust between the security forces and Gujjar-Bakerwal tribes poses an intelligence gap in border security operations.
• The Gujjar and Bakerwal tribes, with a population of 23 lakh, have historically provided crucial support to the Army due to their knowledge of terrain and loyalty.
• Incidents like the 2018 Kathua rape case,2020 Amshipura fake encounter,and a December 2023 incident in Topa Pir have significantly strained trust between the community and Army.
• Systemic issues such as restrictive policies, insecurity of livelihoods, poor communication infrastructure, lack of forest land rights enforcement are diminishing tribal contributions.
• Notable voices include:

– Lt. Gen. D.S. Hooda (Retd.) emphasized re-establishing relations with these communities given their historic role in defense.
– Shahnawaz Choudhary pointed out administrative lapses and manipulation by Pakistan’s ISI affecting relations further.
– Tribal researcher Javed Rahi stressed consistency across Army policies alongside community recognition practices like setting up history museums or valor memorials.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The deteriorating relationship between the security forces and Gujjar-Bakerwal tribes is concerning from both counter-insurgency efforts and broader socio-political perspectives. These communities historically functioned as vital contributors to national security in insurgency-prone regions like Jammu & Kashmir but now face visible systemic neglect alongside unresolved grievances such as livelihood vulnerabilities and inequitable distribution of forest land rights.

This trust deficit not only creates critical intelligence gaps but also risks deepening socio-economic alienation among youth susceptible to external influences like ISI propaganda – an element duly highlighted by both experts on-ground opinions alike

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