Srinagar, May 12: Normalcy has returned to Jammu and Kashmir following days of cross-border shelling, drone attacks, and missile launches that had paralysed life along the entire region.
A ceasefire pact between India and Pakistan, which was declared on Saturday evening, has resulted in a sharp reduction of hostilities, causing much-needed relief to thousands of locals along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB).
The Indian Army on Monday said that there was no new report of firing from the LoC and said the night was ìlargely peacefulî in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as along the border in Punjab and Rajasthan.
This is the second straight night that has been peaceful after days of air raid alerts, power outages, and shelling that killed at least 25 individuals, including seven security officials, and injured dozens.
The conflict escalated after the Indian Army conducted pinpoint strikes on terror targets in Pakistan and PoK, as retaliation against the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which had resulted in the loss of 26 lives, mostly tourists.
In retaliation, Pakistan conducted massive shelling and drone attacks along Indian border posts from May 7 onwards.
Markets reopened, public transport resumed, and daily life began to normalise in much of Kashmir, including Srinagar, where shops in the commercial hub of Lal Chowk experienced moderate business.
The market opened cautiously, but people began trickling in as the day went on,î said a street vendor Mushtaq Ahmad. ìWe are relieved. The last few days felt like we were on the verge of war.î
In Uri town in Baramulla and Tangdhar town in Kupwara, which were the worst hit by artillery shelling, no fresh incidents of shelling were reported after Saturday night.
Locals returned to their normal lives cautiously, even as the authorities issued warnings asking people not to hurry back to forward villages for fear of shells and ammunition that may not have exploded.
The J&K administration said that almost 1,25,000 citizens were evacuated from frontier villages in Baramulla, Bandipora, and Kupwara districts.
Donít return to frontline villages. Lives are at risk as unexploded munitions continue to lie scattered following Pakistani shelling,î Police notices said.
Bomb disposal squads have been sent to sanitise and clear the affected areas.
Deputy Commissioners (DCs) have been instructed to take stock of damage to property and livestock in their respective districts.
In Poonch and Rajouri districts along the border ñ some of the worst affected by the shelling – people were cautiously optimistic about the truce.
ìWe have come back to look after our cattle and return to farming,î Sonam Choudhary from R S Pura sectorís Chandu Chak said.
The ceasefire, reached through a bilateral understanding, calls for an immediate halt to all military activity ñ on land, air, and sea.
While the guns have fallen silent for now, many residents remain sceptical of the long-term sustainability of peace.
Makan Lal, a sarpanch from Akhnoor said, ìPeace is fragile here. We are grateful for the calm, but history tells us it might not last.î
Meanwhile, life slowly limped back to normal across Kashmir on Monday as affected business establishments witnessed some activity after several days of unease by rising Indo-Pakistan tensions in the aftermath of the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam.
While private and public transport returned to the roads, schools and government offices remained shut due to a scheduled Government holiday.
The usually bustling markets of Srinagar, including Lal Chowk, Budshah Chowk, and Residency Road, witnessed were open, with shopkeepers expressing both relief and apprehension.
ìWe opened our shop today as usual. The tension after the Pahalgam attack had everyone worried. But we cannot afford to keep our shutters down for long,î said Abdul Ahad Wani, a garment shop owner in Lal Chowk. ìWe just hope the situation remains stable now.î
Yaseen Lone, who runs a handicraft outlet near Boulevard, said, ìBusiness was hit badly. We rely on daily sales, and with the entire streets deserted and tourists avoiding travel, we suffered losses. The Pahalgam incident brought back memories of past turmoil. People are still scared.î
Transporters too resumed operations, though they acknowledged the past few days had been difficult.
ìWe were affected due to less footfall since the attack. There were fears of a sudden flare-up,î said Shaker Ahmad, a bus driver on the Srinagar-Baramulla route. ìLet peace prevail, we are tired of disruptions.î
Schools and government offices are expected to reopen on Tuesday.
For now, people across Kashmir remain hopeful that the fragile calm will hold.
We have seen enough. Every time something happens on the border or in Kashmir, our livelihoods are the first casualty,î said Mohammad Ramzan, a fruit vendor from Anantnag. ìWe just want to live in peace and work.
