Kashmir Tense: India Evacuates Border Fearing Retaliation From Pakistan

New Delhi (Sputnik) – India's so called ‘surgical strike' has heightened tensions in the Kashmir valley. Those living along the bordering villages are taking shelter inside the tunnels at night fearing artillery attacks from across the border. Prakash Singh Badal, Chief minister of the Indian State of Punjab, which shares a border with Pakistan, said that after the briefing by the Home Minister Rajnath Singh, they have undertaken a massive evacuation. People have been asked either to move to camps set up by the Government or they can stay with relatives living at least 10 kilometers from the border.

Meanwhile Pakistan has denied that any such strike took place in the disputed region of Kashmir. Earlier during the day, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held a high level meeting to review the security situation along the line of Control.

Apparently referring to the so called surgical strike by India, Pakistani Army chief General Raheel Sharif said, "Pakistan can't be coerced through any amount of malicious propaganda." Expressing complete faith in Pakistani Army's capabilities, he added that, "The highest state of vigil is being maintained along the Line of Control, Working Boundary and the international border."

One of the Pakistani sources told Sputnik that the hype around the surgical strike had been created just to stop Prime Minister Modi's popularity receding especially after the Kashmir unrest which has gone out of control.

Pakistan believes that the 'surgical strike' is nothing but a political gimmick by the Indian establishment to divert attention from the Kashmir problem, Pakistani government sources told Sputnik.

Sushil Pandit, a Kashmiri activist and expert on Kashmir told Sputnik, "There is no migration from the villages along the border areas after the India's surgical strike as they have nowhere to go. But the people of bordering villages have prepared bunkers in case of war or heavy firing from Pakistan. Panic has gripped the bordering villages on the Indian side of Kashmir. The Indian Border Security Force is on alert. Movement of air force planes has increased. But the fact is that the people of Kashmir are not in favor of another war." 

Kashmir, a disputed territory, is the bone of contention between India and Pakistan ever since the partition of the country. But tensions are high on both the sides after the surgical strike by the Indian army. 

 "the Kashmir situation can only be solved by dialogue. The surgical strike by the Indian Army will definitely weaken the morale of terrorists but for how long. Ultimately we should sit on the table to find a solution," Indian defense expert, P K Hoon told Sputnik.