Ceasefire holds, but LoC residents remain fearful

While many locals returned to their homes in villages along the International Border (IB) on Sunday, a day after India and Pakistan reached a ceasefire, most villagers along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch are awaiting the “right time.”

An uneasy calm prevailed in villages along the IB and LoC in the Jammu region today, with a mostly quiet atmosphere across the border belt and no reported ceasefire violations. Hours after the truce was declared, Pakistani troops had indulged in firing along the border in Jammu region on Saturday evening leaving many locals in shock.

Sunita Rani, a resident of Akhnoor, recounted that she and her family had moved to a camp established by the administration and were preparing to return home. “However, we suddenly received information that cross-border firing had started again. We were scared and decided to remain at the camp,” she said.

Sunita, along with her husband and two children, reached their home ons Sunday. “I am just praying to God that this peace should not be broken now,” she expressed.

Thousands of people from the Poonch district, who had fled their homes following deadly artillery firing by the Pakistani Army on May 7, were still waiting for a permanent establishment of peace before considering a return.

Murtaza Ali, a local from Mendhar, stated that people were hesitant to return to their homes after the events of May 7. “People had escaped in the darkness of the night when Pakistan was relentlessly trying to turn the region into a graveyard,” said Ali, who himself relocated to Jammu.

He added that following the ceasefire on Saturday and its subsequent violation, locals are not yet ready to believe that permanent peace has arrived. “It will take some more days for them to believe that they are safe, at least for now,” he explained.

District administrations had established camps in districts along the IB and LoC, including Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Poonch and Rajouri. While many locals had sought shelter in these camps, a majority preferred staying with relatives.

J & K