Rising role of civil defence

Under the aegis of Higher Education Department, J&K Govt.

- 

ment of troops, the roar of advancing tanks or the dogfights of aircraft in contested skies.

Today, however, hostilities are often initiated silently and from a distance. Adversaries now rely on unmanned aerial vehicles, precision-guided missiles and loitering munitions that can hover undetected before striking with deadly accuracy.

Shifting contours of conflict

This evolution marks a profound shift in the conduct of conflict. For civilians living in border regions, the threat is no longer heralded by marching boots or air-raid sirens but by the sudden appearance of drones or the quiet arc of a missile launched remotely, operated anonymously and often arriving without warning. The battlefield has expanded beyond physical frontlines. The question confronting both governments and citizens is urgent: how does one defend against a war that is fought invisibly by machines, and often without a declared beginning?

The answer lies in fundamentally reimagining civilian preparedness. As the arsenal of warfare evolves, so too must the resilience, awareness and response capabilities of communities. In an age where machines strike silently and without warning, our defences must become faster, more adaptive and acutely attuned to the shifting contours of conflict—from traditional ground skirmishes to precision-driven aerial assaults.

Several models of effective civilian preparedness already exist, offering valuable lessons. In Israel, for instance, every residential building is mandated to include a bomb shelter and regular civil defence drills ensure that the population knows exactly how to respond to missile attacks. In South Korea, civil preparedness is institutionalised through monthly air-raid drills and a nationwide alert system that reaches citizens instantly via mobile networks.