Local population bore brunt of cross-border shelling: CM

Baramulla, May 14: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday accused Pakistan of deliberately targeting civilian areas in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the local population bore the brunt of cross-border shelling.
The Chief Minister said that civilians bear the brunt — homes destroyed, lives uprooted in relentless cross-border attacks. “Relief and support are being extended to affected families,” he said.
“The pattern of shelling in Uri mirrors what we’ve seen recently in Tangdhar, Rajouri and Poonch. Civilian areas were hit hard and people have suffered immensely. It appears that the targeting was deliberate,” he told reporters in Uri.
Omar assured the residents that relief measures are being initiated and that a detailed damage assessment is currently underway. “We are taking stock of the situation. Relief efforts are in motion and will continue over the next few days,” he said, adding that the priority would be to provide immediate relief to the affected families, followed by long-term safety measures, including the construction of bunkers in vulnerable areas.
He said the demand for bunkers, which had faded over the years due to relative calm, has now resurfaced as a unanimous plea from border residents. This need cannot be ignored anymore.
The Chief Minister, who is on a visit to shelling-affected areas for the past three days, said the J&K government would coordinate with the central government to draft a comprehensive plan for bunker construction along the LoC. “After relief, bunkers are the next crucial step. We will work with the central government to ensure the safety of our people,” he said.
Replying to a query, Abdullah said, “Only those who buried their loved ones can truly understand the cost of this conflict. From day one, I have maintained that this war was not initiated by us. It was a retaliatory response following the events in Pahalgam.”
He acknowledged the efforts of the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMO) from both sides in facilitating communication and restoring the ceasefire. “It’s only after the DGMOs held talks that calm has returned along the borders. We are thankful for that, but long-term peace must be the goal,” he said.
Omar said hostilities from one side always lead to inevitable escalation. “The day guns fall silent from across the border, they will stop from our side as well. Violence benefits no one,” he remarked.
Moreover, in a series of posts on X, the Office of Chief Minister, J&K, shared the details of today’s visit to Uri. “Met the family of Nargis Begum, who lost her life in the recent shelling in Uri. No words can express the depth of their grief or the magnitude of this tragedy. I pray they find the strength to bear this irreparable loss. We stand with them in this hour of grief,” the post reads.
The CM, according to the post, visited shelling-affected areas of Uri, including Salamabad, Lagama, Bandi and Gingal. “This land has endured so much — from the impact of the 2005 earthquake to the pain of cross-border shelling. Yet, its people rise every time, with courage in their hearts and resilience in their spirit.”
The Chief Minister said these visits should have been to share joy, to speak of development — not to offer condolences. “The pain of my people is deeply personal,” he said. (KNO)