Irshad Hussain
” Ham Goliyu ki Awaaz Mai Nahin Padna chateh hai, ” We don’t want to study in the sounds bullets, said students of border areas.
The February ceasefire between the two countries has triggered widespread speculations about its durability, and paramount significance, and implications for bilateral relations in general. The agreement is different from the routine ceasefire assurances that the two sides made till January 2021. And people by and large on border areas, taking relief now.
The ceasefire agreement between two nuclear power India and Pakistan was welcomed by all observers including border resident areas.
People of India and Pakistan hailed this historic move and a ray of hope was revived among the people lying to nearer border areas.
Intense firing from both India and Pakistan left many borders nearer people worried and frightened so far, as both countries agreed to end cross border shelling people expressed their happiness over this move.
Prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan tweeted after the ceasefire, ” I welcome restoration of the ceasefire along the LOC. The onus of creating an enabling environment for further progress rests with India. ”
Teachers who are posted in border areas termed this agreement “fruitful” and said, all teachers want that their students should have a bright future. But, in border areas, the students along with teachers have apprehensions about them losing their lives.”
“Whenever we go to school, we are not unsure whether we return or not, we always have this fear, but after this agreement of ceasefire, we are happy and are not afraid to attend the classes,” Students recalled.
While talking to the media, the farmers of the border areas expressed their happiness and said, “Once upon a time, when our minds were gripped with fear and anxiety due to the military confrontation of India and Pakistan, our crops rot and there was hardly any product as we could not attend to farming. Now, we go to our fields for the cultivation of crops without any fear.”
“We want to live in this peaceful atmosphere forever, we do not want to live in the sounds of bullets and shells,” the farmers said.
While many have returned to their work after the announcement of a ceasefire between the Asian neighbours after a constant bombardment for the past four years, many more are apprehensive and believe the peace along the Line of control may soon disappear and the guns would roar again.
Kounsar, a first-year student Uri area of Kamal Kote speaking to The Kashmiriyat that whenever India and Pakistan confront each other it creates fear psychosis among all the residents. “Due to the lack of transport in the area, we fear to travel to reach out the campus, whenever they (India-Pakistan) starts military confrontation, students do not know where to go,” Kounsar said.
“Shelling can start at any time, there is no guarantee of it, and we could not focus on our studies despite being in classrooms, we fear that shelling may start anytime,” She said.
“Both countries should stop this as early as possible, we want to live in peace and harmony. I fear going to school and our parents are always worried about us whether we will return safe or not. Being a student I’m quite happy that both the countries agreed on a ceasefire,” She told The Kashmiriyat.
Many such agreements have been signed in the past too, would this really bring peace and prosperity to the region? Kamal asks