The joy surrounding a recent India-Pakistan ceasefire quickly dissipated in Kashmir, as the region continued to face significant unrest. Following heavy shelling and drone attacks by Pakistan, tens of thousands of residents fled the Indian-controlled area last week. Despite the announcement of a ceasefire on Saturday, the return to normalcy remained hesitant. Only a few families opted to return to their homes on Sunday, reflecting widespread apprehension.
Basharat Ahmed, a resident of Poonch district, expressed the community's reluctance to return, stating, "We will go back only after complete calm prevails. It doesn’t take much time for the two countries to start fighting on the border." The ceasefire aimed to provide some reprieve from the worst military confrontation in decades between these two nuclear-armed nations. However, accusations of violations of the agreement arose just hours after its announcement, further exacerbating tensions.
Indian officials reported that Pakistani shelling since Wednesday had resulted in the deaths of at least 23 individuals, along with multiple injuries and extensive damage to residential infrastructure. A family, having taken refuge in a government-run college in Baramulla, faced obstacles as soldiers at a checkpoint denied them passage to their home in the Uri area of Poonch, forcing them back to shelter.
Bashir Ahmed, another resident, remarked on the despair caused by the situation, as hopes for the ceasefire disappeared. Both Indian and Pakistani soldiers maintain a heavy presence along the border, with watchtowers visible every few hundred meters. In some instances, the proximity of the troops allows for direct communication between the two sides.
Tensions escalated significantly following a deadly attack on Indian tourists in Kashmir last month, which resulted in the deaths of 26 men, primarily Indian Hindus. India accused Pakistan of supporting the attack, a claim that Pakistan denied. This incident provoked the expulsion of diplomats from both countries, the closure of borders and airspace, and heightened military actions, including missile strikes and drone assaults.
As hostilities resumed, India reported that its missile strikes on Pakistani territory had killed at least 100 militants, including prominent leaders. This retaliatory measure was a part of the ongoing cycle of violence that has left civilians on both sides of the border paying the heaviest price.
In Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, residents expressed fear that Indian attacks could devastate their villages. Following the ceasefire announcement, many began returning, only to find their homes and businesses in ruins, leaving them uncertain about future safety and assistance for rebuilding. Abdul Shakoor, from Chinari in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, recounted his harrowing escape while emphasizing that those who support the conflict often forget the true impact on local civilians.
Despite the overwhelming relief brought about by the ceasefire, Shakoor stressed the importance of dialogue between the two nations, asserting, "In the end, even after war, it all comes back to dialogue." As tensions continued, the once picturesque Neelum Valley became a scene of destruction, littered with debris from the ongoing conflict.
Residents of Neelum Valley, situated near the Line of Control, shared their experiences recounting nights filled with fear and bombings. Fatima Bibi described the terror of fleeing to a bunker with her family as shelling rattled their village. She acknowledged the ceasefire's critical role in preventing what could have been catastrophic loss of life.
