In this episode, India Today TV Output’s Senior Executive Editor Shiv Aroor and host Dev Goswami explore the complexities of Jammu and Kashmir, focusing on the volatile districts of Rajouri and Poonch. They analyze a recent deadly ambush in Poonch that claimed the lives of four Indian Army jawans and the mysterious deaths of three civilians in Baffliaz, allegedly due to torture during Army questioning.

What makes Rajouri-Poonch, situated near the Line of Control, such a contentious flashpoint? Is the region's proximity to the border a key contributing factor to the volatility?

Shiv, drawing on his 20 years of experience and yearly visits to Kashmir, explains how the region's terrain provides terrorists with a vantage point, making it susceptible to violence. Despite incidents, there's another side—post the abrogation of Article 370, the region has seen reduced violations, leading to a four-fold increase in tourism in 2022 according to government data.

However, recurring incidents like the recent ambush raise concerns. Has peace and normalcy genuinely returned to the region? Are the youth truly disenchanted with the military, considering the decrease in militant recruits in 2023?

The duo digs into these details.

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Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi