Loud, unafraid

The recent flare-up between India and Pakistan has once again highlighted the grim reality faced by civilians living along our volatile frontiers.

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The recent flare-up between India and Pakistan has once again highlighted the grim reality faced by civilians living along our volatile frontiers. While the guns have fallen silent for now, the aftermath continues to reverberate through the lives of those in border areas of Jammu, Poonch, Rajouri, Ferozepur, and Jaisalmer. Homes have been reduced to rubble, livestock lost, livelihoods destroyed – and families are left to pick up the pieces, often alone. As per official estimates, 17 civilians were killed during the four-day exchange of missiles, drones, and heavy shelling. Hundreds were evacuated under emergency protocols, only to return to shattered homes and fractured routines. Roofs are gone, walls cracked, fields scorched. In many areas, families are now living in makeshift shelters, struggling to secure basic necessities like food and water.

It is easy for the nation to express solidarity in times of crisis, but what comes after is where true accountability lies. The central and state governments must go beyond perfunctory damage assessments and announce a structured, transparent compensation package that adequately addresses the material and psychological trauma inflicted on these communities. Relief measures must not be piecemeal or delayed by red tape. Direct financial assistance, temporary housing, veterinary care for lost livestock, and access to medical and mental health services should be delivered swiftly and efficiently.