THIS refers to recent border clashes between the Pakistani and Indian armies at the LoC in Kashmir and the Batalic sector. Although these clashes were minor in the sense that they didn’t spread to other sectors of the LoC, but if they spread the key sufferers would be the innocent local inhabitants on both sides of the LoC.

The local people have to take shelters in bunkers or to migrate to safe places as IDPs.

Some of our so-called intellectuals and politicians have given statements on the media as well as on the social media to aggravate the situation.

Likewise, there are also people with the same mindset on the Indian side. It looks these statements have been issued sitting in drawing rooms, ignoring the issues and troubles of the common people living on the borders.

Warfare in today’s world is much more complicated than it has ever been. The local population along the LoC in Gilgit-Baltistan lives in a severely cold region.

Keeping in view all the difficulties of the people, I want to appeal to both the governments to stop the exchange of fire at the LoC. As war has never been a solution, we have to learn from the past.

A.M. MARSHALL
Khaplu, Gilgit-Baltistan