Jammu, August 16: The sudden flare-ups on borders between India and Pakistan every now and then has made the lives of the border residents miserable as they become cannon fodder for the tension between the two warring neighboring countries out to settle the scores.
The border residents are caught between the proverbial devil and the deep sea as they are the losers on every front paying the price for the enmity between the two countries even as political bosses, separatists and vested interests are busy reaping the harvest out of the miseries of the people.
The proverb fits for the border residents of both the countries as talking of only one would not be conforming to the standards of the humanity because on every occasion of border flare-up the common man on the either side of the border has to pay the price even if he supports or not the military onslaught on the other country.
The fact is that human lives are lost and people are maimed for life and their day to day life is always in jeopardy despite the so called relief and rescue operations by the administration on either side of the international border.
Closer home we have been witnessing the plight of the border residents in Poonch , Arnia, RS Pura sectors etc whenever the unprovoked border shelling or firing takes place.
While army of both sides is always prepared for such attacks the poor residents being civilians have hardly any mechanism to defend themselves and depend solely on the mercy of the army men on the other side of the borders to avoid direct firing on civilian areas.
However for the past couple of years it has been seen that the Pakistani troops have been targeting the civilian areas directly inflicting numerous loss of human lives, live stock and property which affects the lives of the survivors very badly as no amount of relief and rehabilitation can give their property and family members back to them.
The dilemma of the border residents is that if they don’t abandon their villages, houses and crops they have a devil to face in the shape of aggressive Pakistan always ready to fire at will over residential areas for enjoyment and political reasons. But if they chose to abandon their villages and property they have a deep sea of poverty, migrant camps, loss of study, property and dignity of life for being dependent on the government doles.
One wonders as to what is the lasting solution for the miseries of these unfortunate souls who have little to do with the international political games but continue to pay the price without having any say in such matters.
Meanwhile India and Pakistan continue to blame each other for the ceasefire violations and when India complains to Pakistan it is quick to respond with accusations of ceasefire violations from Indian side.
The political class of both the countries issue customary condemnation statements over such incidents but no one seems to spare a thought over the condition of these poor souls who continue to bear the brunt of the cease fire violations.
While Pakistan has a habit of indulging in such inhuman atrocities over the civilian areas the Indian government must also work out a long term plan for the rehabilitation of these border residents so that they don’t have to pay heavy price for being in the vicinity of the borders?
The irony is that even separatists have begun shedding crocodile tears over such incidents knowing well it is basically their kind of violent politics that has been proving catastrophic for these poor residents.
One can only hope that the days of the miseries of these border residents come to an end as it is only the wearer who knows where the shoe pinches and hence they must be taken on board to discuss their long-term relief and rehabilitation to lead a peaceful life.