Nestled between the Indian mountains illegally occupied the Jammu and the Kashmir (Iiojk), the teachers lead schoolchildren in the village of Churanda in the morning prayers, asking that the sound of the nuts and a cooing birds is not replaced by the roaring of artillery.
Although children attended the class as usual, “fear among parents is high,” said teacher Farooq Ahmad, following a deadly attack on tourists, that many on the two sides of the control line that divides the concern of the region could lead to a conflict.
India and Pakistan fought two wars on cashmere and countless confrontations on the border during the decades. Thus, residents have used to watch and wait with fear when tensions between neighbors hover.
The attackers killed at least 26 tourists during last week’s attack on a mountain beauty place. India blamed Pakistan for participation, which Islamabad denies. Pakistan said it had “credible information” that India is intended to launch military action soon.
From Churanda, Pakistani and Indian soldiers can be seen in their outposts. The ancients say that at least 18 people have been killed in the village to shoot between the two parties in recent decades.
“There are six bunkers in the village for the population of 1,500. The two parties threaten. If there is a border climb, where are we going? Fear is there because this village is the worst blow,” said Abdul Aziz, a 25-year-old resident.
Supplies for two months
On the other side of the Azad Cashmere, residents of the village of Chakothi have prepared fortified shelters that dot the hills near their home.
“People have built bunkers at home. They go to bunkers whenever there are layoffs,” said Faizan Anayat, 22, who visited his family on a hide from Rawalpindi where he works as an air conditioning technician.
One of his neighbors, Mohammad Nazir, 73, took a break to prepare the bunker to go to the mosque for Friday prayers while the children of his family played a cricket near his entry.
“We are not afraid of anything,” said Nazir. “Each of our children is ready.”
In the capital of Azad Cashmere, Muzaffarabad, the authorities say they have prepared an emergency fund of 1 billion rupees and sent enough food, water and health to the villages along the loc to last two months.
The authorities closed all the religious seminars in the region for 10 days, officials announced Thursday, citing fears of being targeted by Indian strikes.
They also moved the equipment to areas near the loc to repair any damage to the roads and asked the civilian rescue and defense authorities to be alert, said the office of the Prime Minister of Cashmere of Azad.
The head of the cashmere branch of the Pakistani red croissant, Gulzar Fatima, said that the rescue group saw the tensions increase, they began to mobilize supplies and staff, including first aid providers.
In the event of an Indian military action, they expect a large-scale migration of people from all over control and prepare rescue camps with tents, hygiene kits and cooking equipment for at least 500 families, she said.
