Sajid Raina
Srinagar, May 5: Fear and uncertainty continue to grip residents along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir as Indian and Pakistani armies exchanged cross-border fire at eight forward posts for the 11th consecutive night on Monday, following a ceasefire violation by the Pakistan Army.
Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing across eight forward sectors along the LoC in J&K, violating ceasefire agreements and prompting retaliation from Indian troops, officials said.
They said Pakistan Army posts initiated unprovoked small arms fire across the LoC in areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajauri, Mendhar, Naushera, Sunderbani and Akhnoor in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army responded promptly and proportionately, they added.
This marks the 11th consecutive night of cross-border firing by Pakistan, amidst rising tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people.
Meanwhile, locals in the affected areas said they have been living in constant fear since the firing began along the LoC, with many avoiding forward zones and halting daily activities. “We have been living in fear as the shelling resumes each night after the Pahalgam attack. Our children are terrified,” said Mohammad Ashraf, a resident of Rajouri.
He said they live in fear each day, uncertain about what might happen next. “We were living a peaceful life since the 2021 ceasefire pact, but now it all seems to have collapsed,” he added.
The border residents in Kashmir said that LoC areas have suffered a major setback this year. They said these regions have emerged as popular tourist destinations in recent years, creating employment opportunities for locals.
“Gurez was full of tourists around this time last year, but since the Pahalgam attack, not a single tourist has come,” said Ajaz Ahmad, a resident of Gurez.
Another major border tourism destination, Keran, located along the LoC, has seen a similar decline, with visitors staying away due to the ongoing border tension.
“Last year, we had homestays booked weeks in advance. Now everything is empty,” said Shabir Lone, a homestay owner in Keran. “The silence from tourists is louder than the shelling.”
Locals said the sudden drop has hit their livelihoods hard. “We had just started to dream of a stable income through tourism,” said Naseema Bano, who runs a small tea shop. “But fear has driven everyone away.”
