Baramulla: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday accused Pakistan of deliberately targeting civilian areas in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the local population bore the brunt of cross-border shelling.
The Chief Minister said that civilians bear the brunt — homes destroyed, lives uprooted in relentless cross-border attacks. “Relief and support are being extended to affected families,” he said.
“The pattern of shelling in Uri mirrors what we’ve seen recently in Tangdhar, Rajouri and Poonch. Civilian areas were hit hard and people have suffered immensely. It appears that the targeting was deliberate,” he told reporters in Uri.
Omar assured the residents that relief measures are being initiated and that a detailed damage assessment is currently underway. “We are taking stock of the situation. Relief efforts are in motion and will continue over the next few days,” he said, adding that the priority would be to provide immediate relief to the affected families, followed by long-term safety measures, including the construction of bunkers in vulnerable areas.
He said the demand for bunkers, which had faded over the years due to relative calm, has now resurfaced as a unanimous plea from border residents. This need cannot be ignored anymore.
The Chief Minister, who is on a visit to shelling-affected areas for the past three days, said the J&K government would coordinate with the central government to draft a comprehensive plan for bunker construction along the LoC. “After relief, bunkers are the next crucial step. We will work with the central government to ensure the safety of our people,” he said.
Replying to a query, Abdullah said, “Only those who buried their loved ones can truly understand the cost of this conflict. From day one, I have maintained that this war was not initiated by us. It was a retaliatory response following the events in Pahalgam.”
He acknowledged the efforts of the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMO) from both sides in facilitating communication and restoring the ceasefire. “It’s only after the DGMOs held talks that calm has returned along the borders. We are thankful for that, but long-term peace must be the goal,” he said.
Omar said hostilities from one side always lead to inevitable escalation. “The day guns fall silent from across the border, they will stop from our side as well. Violence benefits no one,” he remarked.
