Determination keeps troops going despite hardships

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Tangdhar (Kupwara), May 17

For the troops guarding the Line of Control (LoC) — which has remained a battlefield over the past two decades — life is about understanding and managing the adversary, be it the infiltrating militants who try to breach the fence or the harsh and hostile weather conditions.

On the lofty peaks and thick forests along the LoC, it is a tough job for the troops deployed at the forward posts, which for a good part of the year remain inaccessible.

The troops stationed here have to maintain a tight vigil round the clock. The vigil, however, increases with dusk as militants usually make an attempt to sneak into the Valley during the night.

“The nights are really long,” said Sepoy Mohan R, a resident of Tamil Nadu.

“The troops guarding the LoC are always vigilant. We know any minor negligence will give the other side an edge as they too keep an eye and wait for the proper opportunity to sneak in,” the Sepoy added.

From foot patrolling, ambushes, observation from the post, being part of a road opening party, area domination patrol and equipped with binoculars, telescopes and search lights, the troops have a tough task.

A soldier’s tenure to a forward post lasts two years. At some forward posts, which remain inaccessible and where the temperatures plunges to – 20 to 30°C during the winter, the troops despite hardships maintain a high degree of vigil.

“It is a job that needs great motivation,” said Sepoy Mohan. “We know we are here to defend the country, it makes us work with a high degree of motivation,” he added.

Another jawan said each day they had to do six hours of duty at a forward post. The troops later join a patrol for another six hours to ensure that nobody sneaks in. And the duty hours can be longer and continue for days, if there is an input about possible infiltration.

“We lay night ambushes to prevent infiltration. We have to ensure that we do not make a sound while patrolling. At times, we even crawl miles during patrolling,” said Subedar Birendra Singh.

“The duty on the forward area is tough, but there is always the satisfaction of knowing that we are doing it for our country,” he added.

While the harsh winter is the biggest enemy along the LoC, one cannot ignore the high-speed winds on the rugged mountains.

A senior Army officer in Tangdhar said it was sheer determination that kept the jawans vigilant along the borders round the clock. “It is only this determination that brings peace,” he said.