IndoDaily Home Page
THE STANS
India-Pakistan gunfire triggers terror of past conflict
India-Pakistan gunfire triggers terror of past conflict
By Parvaiz BUKHARI
Balkote, India (AFP) May 4, 2025

For 10 nights straight, gunfire between Indian and Pakistani soldiers has echoed from the mountains and deep valleys that form the heavily defended de facto border between the nuclear-armed rivals.

And, each night, it brings back afresh the horror for 50-year-old maize farmer Bashir Dar -- the last time the bitter enemies battled across the Line of Control in contested Kashmir, his wife was killed.

"The mortar shell landed right next to my wife -- she died instantly", said Dar, describing fighting in 2020 near his mountain village of Balkote, on the Indian side of the dividing line.

His home lies less than a mile from Pakistani-controlled territory.

"These days, that moment flashes in my head all the time," the widower said, holding up a picture of his late wife.

"Every night, I sit huddled with my four children in one room -- with an ear to the sounds of gunfire coming from the border."

Relations between the neighbours have plummeted after India accused Pakistan of backing the worst attack on civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir in years, in which a gang of gunmen shot dead 26 men, mostly Hindus.

Islamabad has rejected the accusations.

Indian police have issued wanted posters for three men -- two Pakistanis and an Indian -- accused of carrying out the April 22 attack at Pahalgam.

They say they are members of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group, a UN-designated terrorist organisation.

- Cleaning bunkers -

India's army said Sunday that its troops had exchanged gunfire with Pakistani soldiers overnight across the Line of Control in multiple sites, which it says has taken place every night since April 24.

The army said "unprovoked small arms fire" from Pakistan, to which Indian soldiers "responded promptly and proportionately".

There was no immediate confirmation from Pakistan, but Islamabad -- whose military on Saturday said it carried out a "training launch" of a missile weapons system -- has accused India of a "ceasefire violation".

Muslim-majority Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947, with both governing part of the disputed territory separately and claiming it in its entirety.

Rebel groups opposed to Indian rule have waged an insurgency since 1989. Tens of thousands have been killed.

Government employee Mansoor Ahmed, 38, took two days off to prepare his bunker he had built in the village, at a cost of some 200,000 rupees ($2,300).

"I cleaned up my bunker and stocked it up for the first time since 2021," Ahmed said, referring to the year India and Pakistan agreed to a renewed border ceasefire.

Many of those without bunkers have already left for safer places like Baramulla, further from the dividing line.

"Six families in my neighbourhood left their homes for safety during the last few days," said truck driver Mohammad Ibrahim, who has stayed with his wife and children.

"They requested us to look after their homes and cattle."

- 'No protection' -

In the villages of Churunda and Tilawari, fearful residents said officials had visited, telling them to check the condition of a few government-constructed community bunkers.

"There are only six bunkers, and each bunker can accommodate a maximum of 15 people," a young villager told AFP, declining to be named.

In Churunda village, there are some 120 families.

"No proper facilities exist in the bunkers, and when it rains, water enters inside. The bunkers have not been built properly," said the man.

"If war happens, these bunkers will be useless."

AFP reporters saw a community bunker in the village with thick concrete walls and a slab on top.

But the floor was covered in runny mud.

Residents are fearful, and watch news on their mobile phones constantly.

"We live in constant fear of becoming victims of the conflict," said a young woman in Tilawari, who declined to be named.

"We want peace," she said. "We want to send our children to school and live our lives without fear."

Related Links
News From Across The Stans

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
THE STANS
Iraq drone attacks wound five Kurdish security personnel
Arbil, Iraq (AFP) April 29, 2025
Five Iraqi Kurdish security personnel were wounded in two drone attacks in northern Iraq in less than 48 hours, authorities in the autonomous Kurdistan region said on Tuesday. Authorities blamed a "terrorist group" for the separate attacks in a region that has seen repeated clashes between Turkish forces and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). "A terrorist group launched two separate drone attacks yesterday (Monday) and this morning targeting peshmerga bases" in Dohuk province, the regi ... read more

THE STANS
US approves F-16 training, parts to Ukraine

New Zealand to replace navy helicopters over 'global tensions'

China blames US tariffs for halting Boeing plane deliveries

Air Force F-16 'super squadron' to maximize combat readiness in South Korea

THE STANS
GM cuts shift at Canada plant over 'evolving trade environment'

'Not everyone will survive': China carmakers eye cutthroat market

Volvo Cars launches $1.9 billion cost-cutting plan

Italy's Pirelli says Chinese control over

THE STANS
How can an electricity network go down in five seconds?

Finland says supports EU goal to cut emissions 90 percent by 2040

UN, Brazil to hold virtual summit Wednesday ahead of COP30

Gunmen attack Chinese-owned power plant site in Chile

THE STANS
Australia launches "world's largest" battery-power ship

ITER completes record breaking superconducting magnet system for fusion energy

Microscale weld imaging unlocks improved durability for fusion power plants

Indonesia says China's Huayou to replace LGES in EV battery project

THE STANS
AI driven algorithm streamlines next generation nuclear reactor shielding design

Spain nuclear plants in 'safe' shutdown mode after blackout

New reactor model unlocks deeper insights into molten salt reactor dynamics

Top uranium producer Namibia to open talks on nuclear energy plant

THE STANS
ACES begins precision time mission aboard the International Space Station

Galaxies surged in size during early universe growth phase

ACES mission delivers record-breaking atomic clock to ISS for precision timekeeping

Cosmic rotation may help resolve universe expansion mystery

THE STANS
Stock markets gain as China mulls US tariff talks

US ends duty-free shipping loophole for low-cost goods from China

Trump's tariffs bite at quiet US ports

Asian stocks gain after China teases US tariff talks

THE STANS
India-Pakistan gunfire triggers terror of past conflict

India closes airspace to Pakistan airplanes

Villagers on India's border with Pakistan fear war

Threat of India-Pakistan conflict after Kashmir attack

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.