Kashmir Tensions: Profile of a family on the Pakistani-controlled side
Updated 16:40, 22-Aug-2019
Violence is nothing new for the villagers living around the Line of Control, the line dividing the Pakistani and Indian-administered sections of Kashmir. But for the people who live there, life in the crossfire takes a steep toll every single day. Our correspondent Danial Khan talks to a family and finds out how they live their lives in never-ending cycle of uncertainty.
MUMTAZ-UR-RAHMAN CHAKOTHI VILLAGE RESIDENT "In this area, every house has an underground bunker. It's imperative because there are times, we cannot run to safer areas, and we have to take shelter inside this bunker. It's a safe place, we bring our children here, till the firing stops."
40-year-old Mumtaz ur Rahman was born in Chakothi, a border village along the banks of Jhelum river. He owns a medical store.
MUMTAZ-UR-RAHMAN CHAKOTHI VILLAGE RESIDENT "The Indian army has been violating the ceasefire line since 1990. They frequently fire at our homes and residential areas along the LOC."
The region of Kashmir stretches from Pakistan in the west, through India and into China in the east. Each of the three countries control sections of Kashmir, but ongoing disputes between India and Pakistan over the region, have at times turned violent.
But Mumtaz says, people living here have become used to the tensions, and do not want to migrate.
MUMTAZ-UR-RAHMAN CHAKOTHI VILLAGE RESIDENT "Pakistan army is our support, they keep us very safe and that's a big assurance."
His son Hamza, wants to be a doctor when he grows up.
But, for now, he is out of school.
HAMZA ARIF MUMTAZ-UR-RAHMAN'S SON "Our schools are closed and our studies are being affected with the ongoing firing from India. For weeks we cannot go to school and fall behind our syllabus. Then we have to take extra classes."
On Feb. 14, at least 40 personnel of India's security forces were killed in a suicide bomb attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.
That attack sparked an ongoing season of extreme tension throughout the Kashmir region.
ROZEENE RAMZAN CHAKOTHI VILLAGE RESIDENT "We are always afraid that our house will be targeted. When India fires at us, we cannot do anything. We have to go into the bunkers. Life becomes very difficult. Children can't go to schools, shops are closed, we can't get medicines. For us, life comes to a stand still."
Pakistan has reported over 4600 ceasefire violations by India between 2016 and 2018.
Far too many lives have been lost in the ongoing Kashmir dispute.
And for the people living on the border, the shadow of war has become ever darker.
DANIAL KHAN CHAKOTHI, LINE OF CONTROL "Tensions are rising every day at the line of control between Pakistan and India.
Reportedly, shelling has increased dramatically since New Delhi's revocation of the Indian controlled region's autonomy.
And as the situation escalates, locals fear that worse is still to come. Danial Khan CGTN, Chakothi, at the line of control, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan."