Teachers lying between mountains in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), head school children in the village of Churanda in morning beans and ask that the sound of swinging walnut trees and cooing birds are not replaced by roaring artillery.
Although children participated in the class as usual, “fear among parents is continuously,” Teacher Farooq Ahmad said, after a deadly attack on tourists, who many on both sides of the line of control sharing the region’s concern could lead to conflict.
India and Pakistan have fought for two wars on Kashmir and countless clashes at the border for decades. So the residents have become accustomed to seeing and waiting for fear when tension between the neighbors is hovering.
Attackers killed at least 26 tourists in last week’s attack on a mountain beauty site. India has blamed Pakistan for involvement, which Islamabad denies. Pakistan said it has “credible intelligence” that India intends to start military action soon.
From Churanda, both Pakistani and Indian soldiers can be seen on their outposts. Elder says at least 18 people have been killed in the village in firing between the two sides in the last few decades.
“There are six bunkers in the village of the population of 1,500. Both sides are threatening each other. If there is border upset, where are we going? Fear is there when this village is the worst hit,” said Abdul Aziz, a 25-year-old resident.
Supplies for two months
On the opposite side of Azad Kashmir, residents of the Chakothi Village fortified harvesting shelters dot the hillsides near their homes.
“People have built bunkers in their homes. They walk in the piles when there is some firing,” said Faizan Anayat, 22, who was visiting family on a trip back to Kashmir from the city of Rawalpindi, where he works as an air conditioner technician.
One of his neighbors, Mohammad Nazir, 73, took a break from preparing the bunker to going to the mosque for Friday prayers as his family’s children played cricket near its entrance.
“We’re not afraid of anything,” Nazir said. “Every one of our children is ready.”
In the capital of Azad Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, authorities say they have prepared an emergency in RS1 billion.
Authorities had closed all religious seminars in the region for 10 days, officials said on Thursday, referring to fear that they would be targeted by Indian strikes.
They have also moved equipment to areas near LOC to repair any damage to roads and instructed rescue and civilian defense authorities to be in high alarm, the Azad Kashmir Prime Minister said.
The leader of the Kashmir branch of Pakistan Red Halm, Gulzar Fatima, said, as soon as the emergency help group saw tensions rise, they began to mobilize supplies and staff, including first aid providers.
In the case of Indian military action, they expect a large-scale migration of people from around the control line and prepared relief camps with tents, hygiene sets and cooking equipment in at least 500 families, she said.
