Kashmiris turn up for army recruitment drive despite separatists' diktat

Anantnag (Jammu and Kashmir): Despite a separatists` call asking the youth not to join the Indian Army, thousands of enthusiastic youngsters turned up for a recruitment drive in Jammu and Kashmir`s Anantnag district.

Around 2,200 candidates participated in the recruitment rally, waiting in queues to present their documents. "I would like to express my gratitude to the staff here which efficiently carried out the training programme. I appeal to the misguided youth in Jammu and Kashmir to throw away their guns and stones so that we can fulfill our dreams," Shabir Ahmad, one of the candidates, told ANI.

The recruitment drive, which began yesterday in South Kashmir, will continue till September 24, while the second phase will be held in north Kashmir from September 29 till October 2.

"Around 2,200 students registered through online and participated in this rally. Our aim here is to provide an opportunity to the youth of Kashmir," Brigadier J. S. Samyal, Recruiting Officer, told ANI. The literacy rate in Jammu and Kashmir has risen to 65.57 percent as against 55.52 percent in 2001-02, but still unemployment is the biggest challenge for the state government, as the youth here fail to get jobs despite being well-educated.