Hope floats after three years of India-Pakistan border truce

Kargil, Nov 26: For the conflict-weary residents of this border district of Jammu and Kashmir, the dawn of November 26, 2003, heralded not only the festivities of Eid-ul-Fitr, but also brought hope and cheers.

Booming guns across the borders fell silent as India and Pakistan announced a ceasefire on this day three years ago.

For the people of this district, which witnessed a bloody conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in 1999, the truce kindled hopes of peace and prosperity.

''We wish that the guns remain silent forever,'' said Ghulam Mustaffa, a government teacher of Kaksar.

He said the memories of those horrible days when the armies of India and Pakistan traded machine-gun and mortar fire almost daily have begun to fade from the minds of the people.

''Our area was on the radar of all the Pakistani guns till November 26, 2003. We used to live under constant fear of death.

But, now happy times are back again and peace is quite visible. ,'' said Sheikh Mohammadi, president of Islamia School.

He said reconstruction of houses and other buildings, damaged in years of shelling from across the border, have almost been completed in the peace time.

Bilal Ahmed, a student from Mushkoh valley in Drass, said education sector was badly affected by the cross-border shelling as a large number schools were damaged and many children dropped out. Ahmed said his graduation was delayed by three years due to the shelling. ''But now, education is back on rails,'' he added. The state government has undertaken several development works in the district over the years which has brought about a significant change in the lives of the people.

''During the past three years of peace, our area has witnessed a lot of development and progress. It is quite evident...One can see that. Same would be the case on the other side of the border. It is reciprocal,'' said Ghulam Nabi Zia, a central government official.

However, some people still cling on to the memories of the past and are wary of peace prevailing in future.

''How long this silence and peace prevails...no one can really say. We hope and pray that the guns on both the sides rust and never put to use again,'' said Sajjad Hussain, a businessman.

Commenting on the ceasefire, Defence spokesman Lt Col A K Mathur said no incident has been reported from anywhere along the 778-km Line of Control (LoC), 198-km International Border and 150-km stretch of the Actual Ground Position Line in Siachen during the past three years of truce, the first between the two armies since the outbreak of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.

''The borders have been calm during the period. There have been no violations of ceasefire. Both the armies have respected and observed the truce agreement in letter and spirit,'' he added.

However, Col Mathur said infiltration from across the LoC was continuing unabated.

''We have also noticed a significant change during the past three years of truce. The Pakistani Army no longer provides fire cover to militants while they sneak into the Indian side,'' he said.

UNI