Residents of Poonch’s border villages like Jalas and Salotri near the Line of Control expressed optimism on December 22, 2025, following the Ministry of Home Affairs’ ground assessment for additional bunkers, prompted by its request to District Development Commissioners for feedback on needs and numbers. This initiative, building on Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s May 30 promise after Pakistan’s shelling during Operation Sindhoor—triggered by the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack—addresses long-standing demands amid persistent LoC tensions. Villagers like Haji Ali Akbar and Satinder Kumar Sharma hailed the move as vital for civilian safety against cross-border threats, preventing migration and boosting morale. From an Indian strategic viewpoint, the bunkers fortify border resilience, deter Pakistani aggression, and signal New Delhi’s resolve to secure vulnerable frontiers geopolitically.