Kashmiris struggle to make their voices heard – DW – 05/21/2025
Khalid Khan
in Srinagar
|
Atzaz Mehdi
in Muzaffarabad
05/21/2025
May 21, 2025
As India and Pakistan mount diplomatic offensives across the world following their recent military confrontation, Kashmiris on both sides of the border say it's time for their voices to be heard.
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Pakistan: Suicide bomber targets children's school bus – DW – 05/21/2025
Authorities in Pakistan are investigating the circumstances of a suspected suicide attack that killed at least four children in the insurgency-hit Balochistan province. A suicide bomber targeted a bus carrying school children in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, killing at least four children, authorities said on Wednesday. Two adults — the bus driver and his assistant — also lost their lives in the attack, which took place in the restive province's Khuzdar district. What do we know about the attack? The bus was headed to a military-run school at the time of the attack. Around 40 students were in the bus at the time. Security forces quickly arrived at the scene and cordoned off the area as the victims were taken to nearby hospitals. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. "The initial probe suggests it was a suicide bombing," Yasir Iqbal Dashti, a senior local government official in Khuzdar district, told the AFP news agency. No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing. Pakistan: What's behind the Balochistan armed insurgency? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video What did Pakistani PM and army say? The Pakistani military has released a statement blaming India for the attack. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also accused India of involvement, without providing any evidence to support the claim. He vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. There was no immediate comment from New Delhi. Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors are already running high following their recent dayslong military confrontation in which both countries launched missiles and drones on one another . Both New Delhi and Islamabad then agreed to a ceasefire. Kashmiris struggle to make their voices heard To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video What's the situation in Balochistan? Balochistan is the largest province by area in Pakistan, but is sparsely populated by around 9 million Balochs. The Baloch, a minority Sunni Muslim ethnic group, say they face discrimination and exploitation by the central government. They point to the community being among the poorest in the country despite Balochistan boasting vast natural mineral resources such as gold, diamonds, silver and copper. The province, which borders Afghanistan and Iran, has witnessed a separatist insurgency for decades, with militants often targeting security forces as well as foreign nationals. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) is the most active militant group in the region. It blew up a railway track and took passengers from a train hostage in March, killing 31. The security situation in the province has worsened this year as several Baloch separatist groups announced the formation of a common armed front in March. Edited by: Kieran Burke
DW
21-05-2025
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Kashmiris struggle to make their voices heard – DW – 05/21/2025
Khalid Khan in Srinagar | Atzaz Mehdi in Muzaffarabad 05/21/2025 May 21, 2025 As India and Pakistan mount diplomatic offensives across the world following their recent military confrontation, Kashmiris on both sides of the border say it's time for their voices to be heard.
Int'l Business Times
29-04-2025
- Int'l Business Times
Kashmiris Fortify Bunkers Anticipating India-Pakistan Crossfire
Pulling logs and dusty building materials from a storage bunker outside his home in Kashmir, Riaz Awan readied the underground space to house his family as they braced for clashes between Pakistan and India to reach their border village. Kashmiris living on both sides of the de facto border -- the Line of Control -- have been caught in the barrage of shells and bullets for decades as the nuclear-armed archrivals fight over the disputed region. The long history of clashes has pushed many residents to build bunkers for shelter should their homes be caught in the crossfire. "We've endured cross-border firing, which has been a tough experience, and we don't want our children to go through the same," Awan, a 51-year-old farmer, told AFP as he and his children cleared the bunker that had until recently stored straw. In Chakothi village, around three kilometres (two miles) from the Line of Control, there are around 30 bunkers for a community of 60 families overlooked by Indian army check posts atop the surrounding green mountains. Awan and his cousin Shabbir share the bunker they built in 2017, which cost them 300,000 Pakistani rupees ($1,000) -- a substantial amount in their impoverished village. But they pulled together the funds to pay for safety. A militant attack last week killed 26 people in Indian-administrated Kashmir, the worst attack on civilians in a Muslim-majority region in a quarter of a century. India blamed the attack on Pakistan and accused it of "cross-border terrorism", a charge Islamabad vehemently denied. In response, New Delhi and Islamabad downgraded diplomatic ties, withdrew visas and announced the closure of the main land border. India says that its army has been exchanging fire with the Pakistani army for the past five days as both countries remain on edge, bracing for a potential military confrontation. "Every day, India makes various threats, saying they will do this and that," said 52-year-old retired soldier Shabbir Awan. "That is why we are cleaning these bunkers today, so that if needed, we can use them and make our lives safer." Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947. Both claim the territory in full but govern separate portions of it. Rebel groups have waged an insurgency in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989, demanding independence or a merger with Pakistan. Ridges and valleys intersected by the Line of Control host tens of thousands of heavily armed troops, with some rival outposts just a few dozen metres apart. The Pakistan military says about 1.5 million residents live along the ceasefire line, long relying on a network of community bunkers and homemade shelters to weather the perennial bouts of unrest. An average underground bunker is around 2.5 metres deep, 3.5 metres wide and 3.5 metres long. Those who can afford it reinforce all four sides with concrete, while others simply use mud walls. "Our main concern is the safety of our children, protecting them is our biggest priority," said Saleema Bibi, a 40-year-old mother of four. In 2017, "they even hit directly on top of our houses", she told AFP. "We have no proper shelter or protection. We are living here -- where else can we go?" she said. Naseema Bibi, a 46-year-old mother of four, owns a cow and two buffalos, making it hard for her to leave. "We have livestock. We can't move anywhere," she said. So she is also working to clear a bunker. "We are around eight families and it is difficult to adjust in one bunker," she told AFP. "But children get panicked so we are concerned because of them." Bunkers can cost around 300,000 Pakistani rupees ($1,000) -- a substantial amount in the impoverished villagers AFP New Delhi and Islamabad have downgraded diplomatic ties, withdrew visas and announced the closure of the main land border AFP Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence in 1947 AFP
