LINE OF CONFLICT: RETHINKING BORDER SECURITY IN INDIA AFTER THE 2025 PAHALGAM ATTACK

India’s border regions, especially those adjoining Pakistan, function as more than just territorial demarcations—they are dynamic, contested spaces that embody larger geopolitical tensions and domestic security concerns. This paper offers a critical analysis of the interplay between borderland geopolitics and the architecture of security, with particular reference to the May 2025 Pahalgam attack. Using a wide range of secondary sources, including policy documents, scholarly works, and contemporary media reports, the study investigates how the rise of cross-border militancy, the advent of hybrid warfare, and the use of emerging technologies such as drones and infiltration tunnels have redefined threats along the India–Pakistan boundary. Through a comparative assessment of the Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab border zones, the paper explores the spatial imprint of securitization efforts—such as the deployment of smart fencing, surveillance infrastructure, anti-drone defences, and rapid troop mobilization. In addition to the technological and strategic dimensions, the research delves into the socio-spatial implications of militarization on civilian populations. It highlights the disruptions to livelihoods, forced relocations, restricted land access, and environmental degradation experienced by communities residing in these highly securitized zones. The Pahalgam incident reveals critical vulnerabilities within India’s existing security framework, even in territories perceived as stabilized, and highlights the evolving tactics of non-state actors. By situating regional security within the broader framework of everyday human insecurities, the paper advocates for a paradigm shift. It calls for a move away from exclusionary, fortress-style approaches toward a more integrated security model—one that combines technological innovation, community engagement, ecological stewardship, and sustained political dialogue. This reconceptualization is vital for addressing the complex realities of South Asia’s volatile frontier landscapes.