Ranbir Singh, a 40-year-old Pathankot native, was home with his family, enjoying Diwali celebrations. Then, in an instant, a total loss of power blanketed the area. This power outage coincided with intense military activity across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, where Pakistan’s military launched heavy-caliber artillery and armed drones. The increasingly deadly clashes have left a toll on each side. Indian armed forces casualties, including deaths and injuries, have been reported.
Ever since the conflict resumed again on Wednesday, the cross-border shelling has escalated. Notably, at least five people were killed in Pakistan-administered Kashmir overnight by Indian artillery shelling. With each retaliatory strike, the death count for Pakistan, and for the Pakistan-administered areas, has climbed to at least 36 people. In an illogical response to the systematic harassment and state violence, authorities have moved 510 residents from three LoC-adjoining sectors to safety camps.
That situation could always change, particularly as Pakistan’s military claimed to have shot down more than two dozen Indian drones on Thursday. We would like to hear your thoughts on this story. Unlike Samba, Pathankot too has been facing blackouts even as the battle against Covid-19 continues.
“You would see lights in the sky and hear an explosion immediately after,” said a 39-year-old doctor at a government hospital in Pathankot.
Military action has disrupted daily life significantly. An international cricket match in Dharamshala, in India’s Himachal Pradesh state, was interrupted because of the ongoing military action. Then came claims from Pakistan, claiming they had employed AVIC-produced J-10C jets to down Indian fighter jets. This kind of unlawful aerial confrontation is reported to have occurred earlier this week. In the wake of this claim, shares of China’s AVIC Chengdu Aircraft went up by 40%.
As the election’s unfolding crisis makes clear, residents like Ranbir Singh are preparing to meet that fear with resistance and defiance.
“We aren’t scared,” he stated, reflecting the sentiments of many locals amidst the uncertainty.
For others, worries about safety come into play once the sun goes down. 42-year-old Laxmi Kant, a property dealer from Pathankot, expressed his fear.
“When night comes, we don’t know what will happen,” he said.
In Pakistani-administered Kashmir, local resident Sardar Qureshi told reporters of the toxic conditions created by relentless artillery fire.
“Our area is not in liveable condition. There has been heavily shelling in the area. People along the Line of Control are in high tension,” he noted.
Diplomatic rhetoric surrounding the conflict remains charged. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar denounced the hostilities as “banned by all International laws,” and stated that they have “jeopardized regional peace and security.” India’s long-serving Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, underscored a strong policy of “zero-tolerance” in the face of such aggressions. He justified the country’s military interventions as necessary to combat global terrorism.
The recent, repeated aerial attacks between India and Pakistan have prompted a spike in response and counterresponse accusations and denunciations from each country. As the situation escalates, the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir, Anwarul Haq, calls a serious warning. As he says, it has “now risen to the level of a wartime situation.”
The toll of the conflict on everyday people is a striking reality even beyond the grim statistics. Currently, residents home and abroad report hearing or witnessing these blasts and explosions daily, contributing to an incredible climate of fear and uncertainty.
“We’ve heard about 30 to 40 blast-like sounds over the last hour alone,” remarked the doctor from Pathankot.
Alongside increased military escalation, diplomatic channels have been dangerously strained. A senior Pakistani government source commented, “The real issue is how much space Pakistan is giving for diplomacy to work.” It’s an elusive hope, many civilians embroiled in the crossfire of this conflict believe. Yet, work as they may to chart a course through this stormy time.
