SKARDU, Dec 5: Refugees of the India-Pakistan war of 1971 from Nobra and Kharmang sectors have been living in a miserable condition owing to poverty and unemployment for the last 33 years.

Affected areas at Nobra Chorbat- Chulunkha, Toortuk, Dowey Thang and Tiakshi- and at Kharmang Hundurmo- Kerkit, Morol and Gangani- were part of Pakistan and most important border areas like Siachen sector at that time.

The people of these areas have worked with Pak Army in defending the frontiers of Pakistan with great patriotism. They supplied ration and ammunitions on the highest pickets like Khander, Gangchan and Gooru where as it was a risk for a single person to travel on these hard mountainous trails.

Unfortunately, these beautiful and important areas, comprising 115 square kilometres, were split off and taken away from Pakistan in the war of 1971 because of insufficient soldiers and ammunition. But the villagers of Chulunkha succeeded to get at Frano, Abadan and Ghorsey, as they had evacuated their homes during night time. However half of the residents of Tiakshi and Turtuk villages were stuck there as they wanted to migrate in daylight.