Srinagar: Cutting across political lines, different political parties here today mourned the loss of lives in fresh cross-LoC skirmishes, and called for immediate cessation of hostilities.
Expressing grief and sorrow over the unfortunate killings on LoC, National Conference leaders Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Nazir Gurezi, Sajjad Uri, Qaiser Jamsheeed Lone, and Qafilul Rehman said that whenever tensions soar between the two countries, it is the people living along LoC and borders who have to bear the brunt.
In a joint statement they said “it is the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially those living on both sides of the LoC or international border who have to face the brunt of skirmishes between the two countries. It’s really saddening to witness innocent lives being devoured like this. We express solidarity with the bereaved families of civilians and soldiers and call upon both countries to immediately stop cross-border shelling. The persistent lighting up of borders has made the lives of people no less than a hell.”
Senior Peoples Conference leader Raja Aijaz Ali while condemning the shelling on civilian areas expressed deep grief and anguish over targeting of civilians.
While terming the flare-up on the LoC as highly unfortunate and deplorable, Raja Aijaz said that targeting old, women and children is not only uncivilized but also inhumane and barbaric.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and injured. We pray for peace to the departed souls and swift recovery of the injured. We urge the LG administration to provide adequate compensation to the families of the victims and urgent medical attention to the injured,” he said.
“Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the people living along the LoC suffer the most. It is the government’s responsibility to provide safe shelters to residents living in the border areas during cross-border shelling incidents,” he said
J&K Apni Party senior vice-president Ghulam Hassan Mir also expressed concern over the loss of lives in border skirmishes and called for a cessation of hostilities along the LoC.
“The loss of lives including in cross border shelling in Uri, Dawar, Keran and Nowgam areas is highly condemnable. The heavy shelling has caused panic in the villages of Balkote and other border areas in Kashmir valley,” he remarked.
He said that this situation is not in the interest of the people. Mir appealed to the leadership of the country to ensure that the people of the border areas of J&K live in peace and tranquility.
“The ceasefire violations, whatever the causes, risk the prosperity and security of both the countries that have far more commonalities than the areas of suspicion and discard,” Mir opined.
Mir reiterated his party’s demand for speedy construction of concrete bunkers for the inhabitants of forward areas across Jammu and Kashmir. “The government of India needs to focus on the completion of bunkers in order to ensure the safety and security of its citizens living in border areas of Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
