India’s Militarisation of IIOJK Exposes Failed Normalcy

India’s deployment of over 2,000 additional BSF troops in Jammu exposes the falsehood of “normalcy” in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), revealing an ongoing military crackdown amid rising unrest.

India has recently deployed two additional battalions of the Border Security Force (BSF) in the Jammu region of IIOJK. These troops, previously assigned to anti-Naxal operations in Odisha, now bolster India’s military presence in a region already under heavy occupation.

The deployment of over 2,000 BSF personnel in Jammu is a stark contradiction to the Modi government’s claims of “normalcy” following the controversial revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on August 5, 2019. Despite claims of peace and stability, the region’s increasing militarization reveals the ongoing, unresolved tensions and unrest.

The newly deployed BSF battalions are positioned in the depths of Jammu, forming a “second line of defense” behind the existing border deployment along the Working Boundary. This strategic placement is meant to strengthen India’s hold on the territory, especially in vulnerable areas such as Samba and other sections of the Jammu boundary.

The BSF has already set up multiple surveillance points, equipped with CCTV cameras, to monitor the area. In addition, logistical preparations are underway to establish both temporary and permanent bases to house the additional personnel. These moves demonstrate the Indian government’s militaristic approach to maintain control over a population increasingly resistant to its rule.

The increased military presence in Jammu comes in the wake of a series of attacks earlier this year in Rajouri, Poonch, and Kathua. These attacks highlight the persistent unrest and the failure of India’s heavy-handed tactics to suppress the growing demand for freedom in the region. Despite the government’s rhetoric of peace, the heightened security measures reveal a different reality—one of ongoing conflict and resistance.

Defense analysts argue that this heavy military presence further exposes the failure of India’s policies in Jammu and Kashmir. The region, far from being stabilized, continues to witness a surge in security forces and surveillance, which only reinforces the narrative of an unresolved conflict and a people denied their rights.

India’s failure to address the legitimate aspirations of the Kashmiri people is becoming increasingly evident. The growing militarisation of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir is a sign of weakness, not strength, and a clear indication that India is far from achieving the so-called normalcy it claims to have established.