India and Pakistan signed a historic bilateral ceasefire agreement in November 2003. As guns of the two armies and paramilitary forces guarding the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border fell silent following the ceasefire agreement, a modicum of peace and normalcy had returned to the lives of thousands of people living close to the borders in divided Kashmir region.
After ten years, this luxury of peace for these people appears to be withering.
Since the beginning of this year, Pakistan troops have violated the ceasefire around 150 times in Jammu and Kashmir, and have done so at least 130 times in the Jammu region alone.
Two women and four children were injured in Pakistan shelling in these areas earlier this week.
Some villages in Pargwal area are situated barely 800 metres from the International Border, while others are less than a kilometer way from the border.
Vehicular traffic on roads close to Pargwal has also remained suspended fearing a mishap because of shelling from across the border.
