Srinagar: Welcoming the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, residents living near the Line of Control (LoC) and borders said that the move has brought a sigh of relief for them.
A huge number of people have died in the cross border shelling living close to the line of control in north Kashmir and Jammu region with damage to the livestock and property for the past 30 years.
“People have always faced immense challenges amid the cross border shelling. This joint statement has come as a breather for all of us,” Mohammad Rafiq a resident of Tangdhar said.
“Border firing has always worried the local populace with the labour class worst victim who couldn’t join the daily work and people forced to move to safer places but the recent joint statement of India and Pakistan has rejoiced all,” Shahnawaz Hussain a Karnah resident said.
Saying that the border residents have always been the victim of cross border shelling the residents of the Uri sector in Baramulla district said that the decision is a welcome step and people are very happy with it.
“We hope both the government find a permanent solution to a ceasefire violation and initiate concrete steps to end it once for all, so that people live without any fear of getting killed,” they said.
In Bandipora’s Gurez sector, the people from border areas echoed similar concerns saying that people have always lived in a state of worry whenever the two armies exchanged gunfire close to the LoC.
District Development Council (DDC) Member from remote Tulail in the Gurez sector while welcoming the decision to adhere to all the ceasefire agreements by the two armies said that over the year’s people have suffered significant damage with loss of life, damage to livestock and property.
“We want to see border areas developed as well and this is a welcome step. We wholeheartedly congratulate both nations since peace has always been our demand as commoners across the borders have suffered losses,” he said.
Echoing similar concerns the border residents in the Jammu division said that there can’t be anything larger than the adherence to the ceasefire agreement from both the ends.
Imran Khan District Development Council (DDC) Member Mehdar Mankote said that their area often witnessed war-like situation due to constant cross border shelling.
“We wholeheartedly welcome the joint statement of India and Pakistan and are hopeful that they would strictly observe all the agreements of the ceasefire,” Khan said.
