Indo-Pak agreement: J&K residents near LoC hope ceasefire holds

Srinagar, May 11: Residents of Jammu and Kashmir living near the Line of Control (LoC) have cautiously welcomed the latest ceasefire between India and Pakistan, expressing hope that the fragile truce may finally bring lasting peace to the conflict-ridden region.

Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours soared following the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, that killed 25 tourists and a local pony operator. India blamed Pakistan for the assault, which triggered aerial dogfights and artillery exchanges along the LoC. Several civilians were killed, and homes and infrastructure were damaged.

Even drones flying across Jammu and Kashmir skies caused sleepless nights for residents, including women and children who lived in constant fear and panic. For many Kashmiris, the renewed cease-fire offers a glimmer of hope -tempered by painful memories of past truces that ultimately collapsed. The first formal cease-fire was announced in 2003, but violations persisted, with major escalations occurring in 2016, 2018, and early 2019. The truce was reaffirmed in 2020.

Nadeem Akbar, 42, a former village head (Sarpanch) from Gawalta in the Lalpura sector of Uri -a village of more than 3,000 residents -said a ceasefire is only meaningful if it is permanent

“If it is fragile, then it is better for us to die in one go than to live a life of fear,” said Akbar, whose family relocated to Baramulla town after the recent shelling. “Ceasefire violations have consumed our three generations. I grew up seeing people lose their lives in shelling, seeing homes destroyed. Whether it was 1947, 1965, 1971, 1998 or 1999, our generations have suffered, watching bodies being carried away.” Akbar described a recent incident when a woman was killed by shelling as villagers fled to safety.

“We are often rendered homeless,” he said. “Building bunkers is not a permanent solution. We want this cease-fire to be permanent. We also want to live and be educated like other Kashmiris. How can we do that while living in fear, with death and destruction around us?”

In Dawar village in Gurez, Mehmood Ahmad,40, echoed those sentiments. “For 13 years, we lived in fear as shells fired from across the border exploded in our villages,” Ahmad said. “Losing lives and damage to property became routine.” Ahmad said the last five years had been relatively peaceful -until violence returned last week. Residents took shelter in community bunkers, although their village was spared from direct shelling. “Still, people were terrified that anything could happen,” he said. “We hope better sense prevails and both countries stick to the ceasefire this time.”

Shameem Ahmad Ganai, 46 from Mohala Sandi Gate in Poonch - an area that bore the brunt of recent shelling -said residents live under constant fear. “Two family members died in our neighborhood, and twin children were killed in the nearby Mohala of Dungus. People lost livestock and shelter too,” said Ganai. He said the threat of conflict drives most people away. “Ninety-five percent of the people in Poonch fled their homes after the recent shelling,” Ganai said. “War is not the solution. We want a permanent end to this and everlasting peace.”