On Operation Sindoor Anniversary, Kashmir’s Border Villages Pray for Peace Beyond the Guns
From Keran to Uri and Tangdhar, residents recall shelling, loss, and uncertainty—yet hope for a future where calm prevails
Srinagar: As the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor is observed, a quiet but powerful sentiment echoes across Kashmir’s border villages—an earnest prayer for lasting peace.
In the far-flung hamlets of Keran, Uri, and Tangdhar, where the Line of Control is not just a boundary but a lived reality, residents marked the day not with celebration, but reflection. The memory of tense nights, uncertain days, and the constant hum of fear remains fresh. Yet, above all, there is hope—fragile, but persistent.
Last year, tensions had sharply escalated along the LoC, bringing fresh waves of uncertainty to these regions. Several houses were damaged in intense shelling across border villages, forcing families to take shelter in bunkers or relocate to safer areas. The scars of that period—both physical and emotional—are still visible in many homes.
“We don’t want to hear the sound of guns again,” said Ghulam Rasool, a resident of Keran. “For years, we lived between fear and faith. During last year’s shelling, we spent nights in bunkers as houses around us were hit. This past year has been relatively calm, and we pray it stays that way forever.”
Operation Sindoor, launched amid those heightened tensions, had brought the border into sharp focus. For those living in these areas, however, the operation was not just a headline—it was a lived experience. Families recall nights spent in bunkers, children missing school, and livelihoods disrupted.
In Uri, 52-year-old Haleema Begum said the difference over the past year has been visible. “Earlier, every sound at night would make us anxious. When shelling happened last year, we thought we would lose everything. Now, there is a sense of normalcy returning. Children play outside without fear. That is all we want—simple peace.”
The villagers gathered in small groups on Tuesday, offering prayers at local mosques and shrines, seeking stability in a region long defined by uncertainty. Many said peace is not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of opportunity.
“Development can only happen when there is peace,” said Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Tangdhar. “We have fertile land, hardworking people, and resilient communities. But during last year’s escalation, even stepping out of home was risky. Give us peace, and we will build our future ourselves.”
Village heads across these regions echoed similar sentiments, urging both sides to maintain calm and prioritize the well-being of civilians.
“We have seen enough suffering,” said Mohammad Sadiq, a village head in Uri. “Many houses in our area were damaged in shelling last year. Our appeal is simple—let this ceasefire hold. Let our children grow up without the shadow of conflict. Peace is the real victory.”
In Tangdhar, another local head, Abdul Majid, emphasized how even a year of calm has begun to change lives. “After the damage we saw last year, people were afraid to rebuild. But now, they have started repairing homes, investing in their farms, and sending their children to school regularly. These are small things, but for us, they mean everything.”
The anniversary also served as a reminder of resilience. Despite decades of hardship, these communities have endured, adapting to the harsh realities of border life while holding on to hope.
“There is a different kind of silence now,” said a young resident in Keran. “Earlier, silence meant fear—like something could happen any moment. After last year’s shelling, that fear had only grown. Now, silence feels peaceful. We want this silence to stay.”
As the sun set behind the rugged mountains lining the LoC, the message from these villages was clear and unified: peace must not be temporary.
For the people of Kashmir’s border areas, Operation Sindoor’s anniversary is not about the past—it is about safeguarding the present and securing a future where the only sounds that fill the valleys are those of daily life, not conflict.
