Even while Covid-19 sweeps through the world and kills thousands, the LoC between India and Pakistan continues to remain tense. On Sunday, at least four civilians were killed on both sides of the border as fierce artillery fire was experienced over the Line of Control. Tortured Kashmiris who already face the risk of disease – along with the brutality of the Indian forces – now also face renewed firing over the border. Their situation is an unsafe one.
According to Reuters, this year in the month of March the number of such incidents across the international boundary has doubled compared to March last year, and they run over 400 for the current year. It is both astounding and atrocious that in this time when disease and death stalks countries, people will still have to face gunfire and bullets. The hostilities over the LoC and international border have now continued for many months, taken many lives and created a huge degree of fear amongst those who live in the border villages.The fact that this should continue even when nations are spending all their resources and energies in combatting the pandemic is shocking. This is a time for unity. Which is something the Indian government must understand, as it continues with horrendous policies both at home and on the border.
The socio-economic conditions in Pakistan and India are very similar. So is the situation of public sector healthcare, with limited facilities for those unable to afford private care. This then is a time for cooperation and not for war. People deserve to be made a priority. Firing on the border will help no one. We hope the Indian state understands that the pandemic is a problem the world and countries which neighbour each other must fight together. It is time leaders considered this carefully and learnt their lessons. We need to work to save lives rather than take more. It is unfortunate that at a time when people are already dying in droves, the Indian leadership has focused more on killing still more and unnecessarily provoking cross-border firing.
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