Cautious calm returns to Kashmir border villages after days of shelling, displacement

Srinagar, May 13: After days of deafening shelling and sleepless nights, a fragile calm has returned to the border villages of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, with markets partially reopened and residents cautiously resumed daily activities.
Border areas in Baramulla, Kupwara, and Gurez in the Kashmir Valley, as well as villages in Jammu affected by cross-border shelling and forced evacuations following the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent Indian retaliation under Operation Sindoor, had descended into silence. Homes were emptied, and shops remained shut, reflecting the widespread fear and displacement.
Locals of Kashmir’s border areas said the recent calm has brought a much-needed sigh of relief after days of relentless fear and displacement.
“We want peace, not war. War brings nothing but destruction,” a local shopkeeper at Uri, whose shop reopened for the first time since the hostilities began, said. “Our children deserve to live in peace and focus on their education, not grow up in fear and uncertainty.”
Many residents echoed similar sentiments, urging both countries to maintain the ceasefire and prioritise the well-being of people living along the Line of Control (LoC).
On Monday, the residents of several Uri areas were allowed to return only after security forces cleared unexploded ordnance (UXOs). Initially with six villages were declared safe by officials following clearance operations. The process is still underway in other parts of Uri and across LoC areas, including Kupwara, Rajouri, and Poonch.
Similarly, in other LoC areas across Jammu and Kashmir, life is gradually limping back to normal after days of intense shelling and displacement — markets that remained shuttered are beginning to open and locals are stepping out to rebuild what was lost.
Though the fear still lingers, the holding of the ceasefire has instilled a sense of cautious relief among residents. “We just want peace to stay now,” Jammu residents said.
Residents living along the LoC have collectively welcomed the ceasefire, describing it as a relief from fear and displacement.
It is pertinent to mention that the recent flare-up left behind a trail of destruction, with civilians losing their lives and extensive damage to scores of homes, shops, and structures. The government says it is assessing the damage caused. (KNO)