Kashmir border residents return home after ceasefire, but haunted by fear and ruins
Kupwara, May 13: Residents living along the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district have started returning to their homes following the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. However, the sight of damaged, abandoned houses—resembling ghost towns—has left many uneasy.
Fear still lingers, with locals worried that cross-border shelling could resume at any moment, forcing them to flee once again.
As per the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian armed forces carried out strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7 to avenge the killings of 25 tourists and a local pony rider in the tourist resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir.
Pakistan responded by resorting to intense shelling along the LoC and International Border in Kashmir region and Jammu, forcing the residents to leave their home for safer locations.
The indiscriminate and relentless exchange of fire disrupted lives and instilled fear in communities already familiar with the conflict in border areas like Uri, Tangdhar, and Karnah in north Kashmir.
With the support of the district administration, many were evacuated to shelters in places like Boniyar, Baramulla, and Sheeri. From May 7 to May 10, those who were evacuated expressed relief at being moved from a place where their lives were at risk.
Akhtar Parmeen shared her experience during the shelling in Uri. “I was numb after hearing the sounds of the shells falling near our home. I cried and pleaded, please save me and my children. The next day, we were evacuated by the district administration. When I reached the shelter at the Government Degree College Boniyar, I felt like I had been given a second life,” she said.
Sakhi Mohd, a resident of Lagama Uri, an area close to Line of Control (LoC), spoke about the brief hope brought by the ceasefire agreement which came into effect on May 11.
“It felt like Eid for my family. But soon after, we heard about shelling again across multiple sectors. The fear and uncertainty remain,” he said.
He expressed his desire to return home but admitted, “I’m still afraid. What if something happens again? There’s no certainty”.
Saleem Sheikh, another resident of Lagama, expressed his anguish, “I didn’t expect this destruction. It will take years to rebuild. I can’t stay here with my family in ruins. I’ll go back to the shelter until things are officially normal again.” He voiced a concern shared by many. “I was eager to go home after the ceasefire agreement, but we don’t trust these verbal statements anymore. We’ve seen violations happening time and again”.
Some who returned home on the morning of May 11 found their joy quickly turned to despair.
Mahmood Ali said, “I returned home after the ceasefire agreement, but when I got there, all I saw was debris. I’m shattered. My memories are attached to this house, but now it feels like a ghost house.”
He added, “Even after the agreement, I can’t stay here. Where will my family and I live among the rubble? I don’t have the courage to stay. I’m going back to the shelter in Sheeri. I’ll return only if the situation normalizes”.
The emotional toll of the conflict weighs heavily on families.
Masrat, a mother from Bandi Uri, described her anxiety since the shelling began, “My children haven’t eaten. They just cry and plead. It’s overwhelming to stay strong when your only concern is their safety.” She recalled the moment they knew they had to leave. “When a shell fell near our house on May 9, we had no choice. Previous incidents were brief, but this time it felt different. When the power went out in the evening, it felt like death was approaching,” she said.
Packing whatever she could carry, Masrat focused on her children’s needs, my only concern was to secure food and shelter for them. Only peace can bring us relief. Life is the greatest gift. If we take care of ourselves, we still have a future.” She urged both countries to stop this madness. If not just end it all. Let us live in peace.
Even after the ceasefire agreement, Masrat remains hesitant to return home. “I’m scared for my children. We don’t believe in these agreements anymore. This time the feeling is different. It’s better to stay like a beggar on the roads than risk our lives until the situation normalizes, she continued.
Despite the ceasefire between India and Pakistan having been formally announced, the residents dwelling in border areas are still hesitant to return to their homes. The families who ran away for their lives and left everything at their native places are waiting in government accommodations, away from their homes and land.
Amidst the devastation, one thing remains clear, those living in the shadows of conflict are not asking for much, just the right to live safely, with dignity, and in peace.
