The India Pakistan ceasefire brought a pause in hostilities, but fear and uncertainty continue to grip Kashmir. Residents remain anxious as recent violence shattered their sense of safety.
Civilians Struggle with Aftermath of Escalation
In Indian-administered Kashmir, families faced drone strikes, airport closures, and shelling. Hajira, a local woman, rushed to collect her ration. “There’s uncertainty around. I just want my rice and to go home,” she said. Her fear captured the mood across the region.
Soon after, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire. Kashmiris, including Hajira, felt relief. “I thank God,” she said. However, within hours, drones reappeared. Explosions rocked towns, including Uri. Nargis Bashir, a civilian, died when shrapnel tore through her car. Her family had tried to flee the border area.
Suleman Sheikh, a local, remembered how the Bofors guns last fired during the Kargil conflict. On May 8, he heard them again. “The ground shook,” he recalled. Despite his family’s pleas, he stayed back to protect their livestock. “I couldn’t leave them alone.”
Although schools and markets have reopened, unease persists. “Only by evening will we know if peace holds,” said Muskaan Wani, a medical student. Residents cautiously resume daily routines, but memories of the conflict haunt them.
Experts argue that the core political issues remain unresolved. “There’s deep political alienation,” said political scientist Noor Ahmad Baba. “No real effort has been made to regain public trust.”
Others expressed anger at both nations. “We’re treated like collateral damage,” said Furqan, a software engineer. “They gave their people a spectacle, but we paid the price.”
On May 10, shelling resumed. Locals who fled remain hesitant to return. Muneeb Mehraj, a student, voiced his frustration: “We don’t want a temporary pause. We want a lasting solution.”
Until that happens, the India Pakistan ceasefire offers only a fragile calm to a region yearning for real peace.
