Border villagers don’t want another Indo-Pak war

Kulwinder Sandhu

Tribune News Service

Moga, September 30

Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan after ‘surgical strikes’ in PoK by the Indian Army, people living along the Indo-Pak border in Ferozepur district who were shifting to safer places said they were not willing to bear the cost of another war with Pakistan.

In the wars of 1965 and 1971 we lost our homes, cattle and lives, villagers said.    

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Gurmej Singh Sidhu of Nambardar Chugge Kishor Singh village, located in Mamdot town, said the situation had changed a lot in the last 40 to 45 years. People had constructed pucca houses and got settled permanently. During the earlier wars there was hardly any pucca house in the border villages, he said.

“We have worked hard to make the barren sandy land fertile. The governments were least cooperative. Now, suddenly displacing the border people within 24 hours is terrible for us”, he added.

Kulwant Singh of Pojoke village said thousands of panic-stricken people had left behind their belongings and cattle at home and went to their relatives. Who would take care of the cattle and the standing paddy crop, which was almost ready for harvesting, he questioned.

Major Singh of Chak Bhange Wala village, who was still at his home along with his family, said that it was difficult for them leave their houses with all their belongings while their crop was ready for harvesting.  

Villagers also fear theft of their belongings. “The state government must ensure the security of our houses and belongings before asking us to leave the houses in the border areas”, Manjit Singh of Bareke village, located near Hussainiwala border, said.

Gurmej Singh further said the residents of border villages in Pakistan also seem to have started moving to safer places. He reported that lights were not seen across the border yesterday. It could be a sign of possible migration or blackout, he said.

Recalling the harrowing tales of previous wars, the ones who suffered the pain do not want another war with Pakistan. “The times have changed. The issues between the two nations should be solved through dialogue taking a cue from other war-torn countries”, Mukhtiar Singh, said.