Peace deserves a chance, lives on LoC matter

Dr. Rizwan Rumi

Regional Head JK, LINE OF CONTROL PEACE MISSION

Srinagar: The indiscriminate firing and shellings by Pakistani and Indian security forces poses a huge threat to the lives and properties of civilians living along both sides of the border. It frequently causes “redundant injury or unnecessary suffering”.

Many residents living in border areas are often rendered homeless and several get injured and/or lose their farms and cattle, often their only source of occupation.

There are hardly any adequate medical facilities for these people. Not a single day goes by without exchange of fire along the Line of Control. Tens of thousands of people reside along either side of this line.

The ceasefire violations have not only left many of them handicapped but have resulted in the loss of life and property.

A considerable number of border residents have migrated from the regions along the LoC, leaving their houses and lands in a bid to save their lives. However, thousands still live in the range of shelling, always frightened that a mortar bomb can wreck their homes or kill their loved ones.

There should be an end to “skirmishes” along the Line of Control as they are making the lives of people in border areas of Jammu and Kashmir miserable. Such skirmishes are no less than a terrible nightmare for the locals. The consequences are excruciating for the people who become “cannon fodder of such cross-border skirmishes.”

These skirmishes also have a chilling effect on the economic activities of the people, dwelling in border areas and other forward posts as well. Caught between the devil and the deep sea, they aren’t able to manage their household chores and look after their farms. Peace on the border is indispensable since any fall-out there has a direct impact on the daily lives of locals.

In a tense geopolitical scenario such as this, people living along the borders are

For the most part powerless, with little control over their environment, and are also extremely vulnerable to physical and psychological injury.

People living in border villages can find themselves caught in the direct line of fire during wars, minor skirmishes or other such incidents. The villages and nearby areas are also strewn with landmines, making people vulnerable. Mine accidents can cause death or severe injury. Militarized fighting can also lead to the destruction of homes and properties.

The discourse on their suffering, although covered extensively by the media, often ignores the other side.

The plight of residents on either side is similar. Neglecting to take into account the impact of any action on people on the other side of the border does not help build a case for peace, but instead perpetuates war and hostility.

Besides death and destruction, people living in border villages are often subject to dislocation and displacement, which not only has a physical impact on people but also psychological. No matter what the scale of hostility and action along the border may be, some degree of displacement occurs. Repeated dislocation is a reminder of the political and cartographic divisions, and often involves some form of physical and psychological brutality.

Being forced to leave your home, being deprived of land, and being denied education and healthcare can have an adverse effect on communities.

As an outcome of the waves of displacement caused by repeated cross-border hostility innumerable people left their homes and in the process, their families were divided and suffered psychological and socio-economic consequences. Border residents can be important in the process of reconciling cross-border issues. Uniting families divided by the LoC could be a bridge between the competing political positions. The opening up of communication channels across the LoC can also be extremely helpful.

At present, India and Pakistan does not permit telephone services across the border, but this, along with easy access to the Internet, would enable divided families to connect and interact with their kin. Facilitating the movement of people across the LoC should be a priority for both governments, especially focusing on easing the process of issuing entry permits and increasing administrative efficiency.

Further, involving members of the divided families in conferences, seminars and discussssions on resolving the Kashmir conflict would bring their issues to the forefront and ensure these are addressed.

In addition, the governments should consider opening up new routes of cross-border movement. This would not only benefit the divided families, but also increase and encourage wider movement and interaction with different communities. Organizing socio-cultural events too could help boost interaction and cross-border movement.

Leveraging cross-border dialogue for trade and people-to-people contact can boost economic and cultural ties, to the benefit of both countries.