Mumbai Heat
Residents near LoC pray for peace
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Mendhar (Poonch), January 6
Amidst tension between India and Pakistan following Mumbai terror attacks, people living near the Line of Control (LoC) here in Mendhar want the two countries to iron out the differences and work for permanent ceasefire. More than four years back, guns fell silent along the LoC due to ceasefire between India and Pakistan and people in the border township of Mendhar, who suffered a lot due to hostility between the two countries, heaved a sigh of relief.

Before 2003, residents of this township, which is located just a few km from Kotli district of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), lived in constant fear due to heavy shelling from across the border.

They say a number of locals lost their lives due to shelling before the ceasefire and there was a huge loss to property as well.

They say hundreds of animals also died due to shelling in Mendhar and its adjoining areas, including Balakote, Mankote Sagra and Gaulad.

After the ceasefire, the fear had reduced. However, with increased tension between India andPakistan following Mumbai terror attacks, people here are praying that the dark clouds of war just wane away and ceasefire turns permanent.

The residents say people used to rush home after 5 pm before 2003, but now the markets remain crowded till late in the evening.

“Four years ago, there was constant fear in the minds of people here that they will get killed in heavy shelling. But after ceasefire between the two countries, there is peace along the border,” says Sanjeev Bali, a local resident.

"We pray that the two countries fight jointly to eradicate terrorism. We also want Pakistan to punish the mastermind of Mumbai terror attacks so that trust is restored between the two countries. We are hoping that after the current tension ends, we will see a permanent ceasefire”.

Months before the two countries announced ceasefire along the border, Rafiq Khan, a namberdar of adjoining Balakote village, died after a shell hit him.

Though the villagers of Balakote still recollect the shocking incident, they hope that such incidents don't repeat and permanent peace prevails.

“Though Rafiq lost his life during the shelling, we hope that such incidents won't happen again.

The hostility between the two countries has added to the sufferings of the people and who better than people living along the borders know that war leads only to devastation and bloodshed on either side,” says Muhammad Sharief Khan, a contractor and resident of Balakote.