With the Indian and Pakistani militaries locked in fresh shelling and firing, and with tensions peaking, panic has gripped the villages, which had been breathing easy since the 2003 truce.

“Villagers are fearing a collapse of the ceasefire agreement,” said Poonch resident Aijaz Kazmi.

Hashim Din (75), of Khari hamlet said, “Earlier we led a life of animals. We had to frequently migrate to safer areas during firing across the LoC.

The firing would kill people and our cattle and damage our homes.”
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