| Introduction: Give a brief context to the question Body: Highlight the impact of civilian death on civil-military relations and how to deal with this. Conclusion: Way forward |
The impact of civilian deaths in military operations on civil-military relations in conflict zones like Jammu and Kashmir is significant and complex. In the year 2023, Rajouri, Poonch, and Reasi districts in the Jammu region recorded a total of 55 fatalities, comprising 20 security personnel and 28 individuals identified as terrorists.
Impact of civilian deaths on civil-military relations
- Erosion of Public Trust: When civilians are killed in military operations, there is frequently a serious decline in public trust between the local populace and the armed forces. The military may be viewed by the public as an occupying force, inciting animosity and hatred.
- Possibilities for Radicalization and Recruitment: Insurgent groups might use civilian losses as powerful propaganda to attract recruits and support. The number of potential insurgents may rise as a result of people becoming radicalized in response to their sadness and outrage over the killings of civilians.
- Effect on Civil-Military collaboration: When civilian casualties are excessive, civil-military collaboration is strained. The military finds it difficult to work effectively with civilian authorities in areas like development, governance, and reconstruction, which makes efforts to maintain general stability more difficult.
Measures that can be taken to balance counter-insurgency operations & maintain civilian trust
- Engagement and Dialogue with people: To gain the trust of the local people and learn about their issues, the armed forces should maintain open lines of communication. Organize frequent community gatherings to resolve complaints and guarantee openness in military activities.
- Legal Accountability: Armed forces should ensure that human rights norms and international humanitarian law are followed throughout military operations. This can be complemented with efforts to Integrate human rights education into military training programs to instill respect for civilian rights and international humanitarian law.
- Training and Rules of Engagement: Ensuring that soldiers receive thorough training on the significance of safeguarding civilians and following stringent rules of engagement is crucial. To coordinate efforts in upholding order and attending to the needs of impacted communities, armed forces could collaborate closely with civil authorities.
Conclusion
It takes years to win over the support of the populace and is a laborious process. The backing of the majority of Gujjar and Bakarwal communities was the most heartening aspect of the army’s actions in the past operations. Village Defence Committees took up arms against the insurgents and fought alongside the Indian Army as a result of which the counter operations were successful. Balancing effective counter-insurgency operations with minimizing civilian harm is essential for restoring trust and achieving long-term stability in conflict zones like Jammu and Kashmir.
