Kashmiri youths participate in an army recruitment rally at Kupwara, about 100 kms north of Srinagar [ Images ], close to the Pakistan border, on May 19.

The authorities had announced last year plans to recruit youths, having a minimum qualification of grade eight pass, from the valley for the Territorial Army Home and Hearth battalion, a voluntary part-time civilian force that aids in the defence of the country.

Hundreds hoping to join came to this rally organised by the Indian army [ Images ].

Some 25,000 youths showed up for the last recruitment drive in February.

Photographs: Tauseef Mustafa/AFP/Getty Images