RANGRETH: At a time Kashmir’s youth are raging against the Indian state, a small group has donned the khaki-and-olive green of the army and pledged to fight for the country.

WASEEM ANDRABI/HT PHOTOA Kashmiri father kisses his son who graduated as an army soldier at a military base in Srinagar.

On a bright, clear Thursday, 308 soldiers participated in a passing-out parade to join the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI) — an exclusive regiment of soldiers drawn from the state. Of the 308, 116 were from the Valley and Muslim dominated areas of Jammu. Their families travelled in the stealth of night to watch them take the salute and fly the tricolour at the Rangreth Centre in Budgam district — mindful of the tension outside its walls. A 41-day curfew keeps a fragile peace after violent clashes between young Kashmiris and security forces that have left 66 dead and thousands injured.

Most of the recruits from Kashmir and their families weren’t keen to discuss why they joined the army.

Asked why he had sent his son to the army, Ghulam (who refused to reveal his full name) said, “The situation is very bad. It is not easy to talk.” The farmer hails from south Kashmir’s Anantnag, which has seen the highest number of killings (18) in the ongoing unrest that is a result of the people’s anger against the killing of a militant commander.

“We are poor families. That is why we send our children to the army. We know the sentiment of the people (against the army) is not favourable,” said a woman from the same district, who had come to cheer her cousin