They represent a counter-narrative of Kashmir conflict: young soldiers belonging to various parts of Jammu and Kashmir fighting Pakistan-sponsored insurgency in hinterland and aggression along 740-km Line of Control (LoC) for the last 27 years.

Despite threat of militants, thousands of young Muslim men have come forward to join the Army and paramilitary forces in Kashmir in recent years. This is a direct challenge to the separatist agenda.

Apart from Hindus and Sikhs, Muslim soldiers from plains of Jammu to mountainous district of Rajouri, Poonch and erstwhile Doda district and from militancy-affected south Kashmir districts have died in the line of duty.

Although J&K government continues to ignore the sacrifice of the soldiers as there is no official policy to take care of soldiers’ families nor is there any compensation policy. Outside J&K, respective governments have implemented a definite policy for the soldiers killed in the line of duty and announced monetary compensation and special incentives for the children of the soldiers.

According to an estimate, nearly 5,000 Kashmiri youth are serving in the Army and paramilitary forces at different levels. There are nearly 8,500 ex-servicemen. These men are fully aware what it means to challenge death while living.

Naik Mudassar Ahmed (37) from Tral, in volatile south Kashmir district of Pulwama often described as ‘liberated zone’ due to high concentration of militants and radicalization among the youth, lost his life on July 17 during intense shelling by Pakistani Army in Tarkundi area of Rajouri. Tral is also the native place of Hizbul Muhajideen’s ‘social media warrior’ Burhan Wani, eliminated by security forces on July 8 last year, plunging entire Kashmir into violence. What went largely unreported was villagers’ emotional farewell to the soldier despite threats from militants.

Similarly, Lance Naik Mohammad Naseer (35), a resident of village Ajout in Haveli area of Poonch district in Jammu region, was killed on July 15. He died fighting bravely against Pakistani aggression while posted at a forward post on LoC in Poonch-Rajouri axis. This area has seen some of the deadliest artillery and small arms duels since attack in Uri on September 18, 2016.

Both the districts are Gujjar and Pahari-dominated areas and share ethnic affinity with people living across LoC in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). This has not deterred youth from joining armed forces.

On July 8, a Territorial Army soldier Showket Ahmed from Rajouri died after Pakistani army shelled his villages close to LoC. He was on leave. His wife also died while two minor daughters were seriously injured. On July 12, Lance Naik Ranjit Singh and Rifleman Satish Bhagat from Jammu died in the Keran sector in North Kashmir, in an ambush by enemy snipers.

Lieutenant General (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain is one of the decorated Muslim generals of Indian Army who once commanded the strategic 15 Corps tasked with anti- insurgency operations in Kashmir and alone LoC with Pakistan. “The nation is indebted to these men. At the heights of Uri and Gurez sector or in the hinterland operations of Rashtriya Rifles, I have seen their smiling faces, happiness writ large with the honor of safe and honourable jobs and the pluralistic and tolerant faith of the Army,” said Lt. Gen Hasnain.

Major General (redt) Sunil Razdan, a Kirti Chakra recipient, is a Kashmiri who served the elite Parachute Regiment till 2012 supervising training of several youth from the Valley. He says boys from heartland of insurgency are defying the separatists and joining the Army which needs to be projected to defeat the Pakistani propaganda.

“Rural areas do not have many economic openings but to say that Muslim boys from Kashmir are joining army for only employment is wrong. They are joining forces and the police knowing fully that they will have to deal with life and death situations. I have trained nearly 130 youth at the commando training centre in Bengaluru and they are fighting militancy in Kashmir,” says Maj Gen. Razdan. Even now when Kashmir is facing heightened militancy attacks, recruitment drives organised by the Army and police in Kupwara, Baramulla and South Kashmir districts have attracted hundreds of youth.

There are several martyrs whose families and their sacrifices seldom find enough space in newspaper columns.