For the past four months, the world is reeling under unflinching pain and trauma owing to the global pandemic that so far killed over one lakh people and pushed into self-quarantine half of the world population.
The virus has brought down the world’s powerful; countries to kneels and has triggered a debate on how the world is prepared to deal with such pandemics in future. But in this part of the world, tragedies and pain is more powerful that has deeply inflicted into human souls.
As usual, Kashmir on Saturday was waiting for the last count of the day of COVID positive patients. Given to its population, it has the highest per million infected people by the coronavirus, so it has triggered the panic among people. But the more shell shocking news traveled from the border district Kupwara.
Three civilians including a 10-year-old child died in cross border shelling. As the pictures of the slain civilians went viral, social media erupted into grief and condemned the violence in the strongest words. The heart-wrenching picture of a young mother holding her 10-year-old child in lap and wailing got thousands of shares on social media.
The picture became the symbol of pain that is being inflicted on Kashmiris by the unending conflict between India and Pakistan. People urged both the nuclear countries to restrain at least during the times of pandemic. The gunfight that locals of the area termed as a low scale war between India and Pakistan were on for many days in the Keran sector.
Earlier 3 Para-troopers of the Indian army were killed while eliminating five militants. Anyways, this ongoing confrontation between the two countries at a time when the world is getting united to fight coronavirus is setting a grim reminder to the world body. Earlier the United Nations had urged for the global ceasefire amid the ongoing situation. But there seems no end to the hostilities between the arch rivals.
Even the Turkey which has a strong animosity with Israel sent aid to the country to fight the pandemic. Russia, which shares hostile relations with America even, deported his military aircrafts along with the medical aid to Washington. China has come to the rescue of European countries despite sharing no good relations. But if the two countries stand against each other at this point of time, that is India and Pakistan.
Those who speak for war and advocate violence normally are inhuman. No saner minds could ever justify or advocate the violence, tragedies and pain inflicted on common people. Even after war, negotiation is the only way out. But when all channels of negotiations fails, war becomes inevitable to achieve peace. That is what common Kashmiri desires now.
