‘It feels like anything is possible': Operation Sindoor and cross-border shelling spark anxiety, confusion and uncertainty in Punjab's Doaba

Indian Express

07-05-2025

The escalation of border tensions since the Indian military's Operation Sindoor in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has left residents in Punjab's Doaba region in a state of confusion and anxiety, even though life appears normal.
While villages in Doaba are situated far from the Line of Control (LoC), the reverberations of the Indian airstrikes in Pakistan's Punjab province and PoK, followed by shelling from across the border, have sent waves of anxiety across the region, especially in areas like Hoshiarpur, which has a large number of residents serving in the armed forces.
Though many in Doaba, traditionally known for its large NRI population and seed potato cultivation, have been consumed by uncertainty, most agree that terrorism needs to be eradicated. However, an all-out war is the last thing many seem to want.
'We don't live near the border, but this news has terrified us all. We have families in border areas and we worry for their safety,' said Raghubir Sharma, a resident of Mukerian in Hoshiarpur. 'We've been calling them repeatedly to know how things are. They say everything is normal there for now.'
The fear of wider military action is palpable. 'Is war inevitable?' said Kuldeep Kaur, a housewife from Dasuya in Hoshiarpur whose son serves in the Army. 'War always leads to destruction.'
'We all want peace, but the question is: how do we stop terrorism without getting dragged into war? No one wants that,' said Tarsem Peter, president of the Pendu Mazdoor Union Punjab.
Peter said that in many villages, daily-wage labourers–who are mostly members of the union–mistook the airstrikes for the beginning of a war. He also said that some villagers were already considering preparations for the worst.
'In our village, a poor woman asked me if she should stock up on rations for the coming days in case of war,' he said, highlighting the level of anxiety taking hold in the community.
Villagers have been calling relatives who live in Jammu and Kashmir or along the border areas, urging them to leave before things get worse. 'My cousin lives in Amritsar, and I called her this morning. I told her to come here for a few days, just in case things spiral out of control. We just don't know what to expect,' said Rajwinder Kaur, a housewife from Hoshiarpur.
In the villages of Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, and Nawanshahr, markets were open and people were rushing to work as usual. But they are wondering if schools and local businesses will be closed in their areas too, like in the border regions.
'The whole day, I've been getting calls from family members from Delhi who are supposed to attend a family function in Jalandhar, asking if it's safe to come here,' said Harjit Singh, a small-business owner in Jalandhar. 'I keep telling them everything is fine here, but the truth is, we don't know what will happen next. Everyone is worried, and people are beginning to feel like we're not as far from the conflict as we thought.'
The heightened tension has led to a noticeable shift in the people's mood. Farmers, who are typically focused on the harvest and tending to their fields, are worried about the safety of their families and the potential impact of a war on their crops and livelihoods.
'Even though we're far from the border, we've seen how quickly things can escalate in the past. One wrong move, and it could come here,' said Surjit Singh, a government officer in Jalandhar. 'I've heard stories from the older generation about wars in the past. People used to hide in bunkers. I never thought I'd see such times again. But now, it feels like anything is possible.'
Some are beginning preparations even though they remain hopeful that the conflict will not reach their doorstep. 'I've been packing some essentials just in case. I don't think we will need to leave, but it's better to be prepared,' said Gurpreet Singh, a farmer in Kapurthala.
Despite the widespread anxiety, many villagers hope the situation will de-escalate without leading to a full-blown war. 'We want terrorism to stop, but war is not the solution,' said Paramjit Kaur, a woman in her late 60s who lives in a village near Jalandhar.
'I remember the last time things got bad between India and Pakistan during the Kargil War, and several young soldiers lost their lives, leaving their families in devastating states,' she added.
Many of the poor are worried about their livelihoods. 'I've been watching the news continuously on my mobile to monitor the situation, hoping that the government will find a way to avoid affecting our livelihoods,' said Bansi Ram, a vegetable vendor.