By Wasik Murtaza
Once again, two nuclear-armed nations stand at the edge of a catastrophe. Missiles fly, jets roar across skies, borders blaze—and beneath it all, the land of Kashmir trembles. For decades, this valley has been the theatre of their rage, the chessboard of their pride, and the graveyard of its own people’s peace.
The recent airstrikes under “Operation Sindoor,” in response to the tragic Pahalgam attack, have escalated tensions between India and Pakistan. But as the world debates strategy and sovereignty, it is Kashmir that suffers silently, and most painfully.
Torn Between Two Flags, Trampled Under All
Whether it is the shelling along the Line of Control, crackdowns, mass evacuations, or curfews under the guise of security, the common Kashmiri bears the weight of both patriotism and paranoia. Schools remain shut, exams are postponed, and shops open in fear, only to close at the sound of a drone. Tourism—a fragile lifeline for thousands—is now a memory of the spring that never blossomed.
Just weeks ago, families in Pahalgam were serving tea to pilgrims. Now they’re lighting candles for the dead. Both India and Pakistan claim to fight terrorism, but in this endless loop of revenge, Kashmir has become both the excuse and the victim.
A Homeland Held Hostage
The Indian state, in its rage, sharpens its sword. The Pakistani state, in its defense, flexes its missiles. Yet neither truly defends the Kashmiri, who is either a suspect or collateral—never a stakeholder. The question is not who is right, but who even cares to ask what Kashmiris want.
In the past two weeks, LoC villages in Kupwara, Uri, and Poonch have seen more displacement than the government is willing to acknowledge. Artillery fire has damaged homes, schools, and hearts. Thousands have fled, others have stayed behind—under tarpaulin, praying for a night of silence.
More Than Just a Territory
Kashmir is not a trophy. It is a place of people, poetry, memory, and grief. We are not just witnesses—we are casualties in a war we never declared. We are tired of being headlines, hashtags, or high-decibel debates on TV panels. We are tired of being “strategic assets” in diplomatic cables and military strategies.
We are human beings, caught in the deadly crossfire of ideology and vengeance.
A Plea From The Valley
To Delhi and Islamabad:
If you must fight, do not use our skies. If you must prove strength, do not count our dead. If peace is too heavy for your thrones, do not unload its cost on our shoulders.
To the world:
Do not just count missiles and martyrs. Count the classrooms that were never filled. The marriages that were postponed. The babies born in bunkers
We will still be here—burying the price of your pride.