Frontline residents recall the May nightmare

While the skies may be quieter now, not long ago they were filled with the sound of shelling and the ominous hum of drones. For those living in the frontline areas of the India-Pakistan conflict, each explosion was more than just noise it was a petrifying reminder of the vulnerability of civilians suddenly caught in the darkness of war.

Following India's barbaric attack and drone incursions into Pakistan, the two nuclear rivals quickly teetered on the edge of war. With the security situation rapidly deteriorating, airspaces were closed, educational institutions were shut down, exams were cancelled, and offices switched to remote work, and business activity experienced a sudden dip.

While sensationalist war coverage of Indian media and nerve-wracking propaganda on social media spread panic across the country, for the residents of border-adjacent areas, the conflict was much more than just a headline. In Lahore's eastern villages, including Wagah, Laban Wala, Bhanu Chak, Naroor, Bhasin, Dayal, Minhala, and Padhana, normal activities resumed during the day, but fear dominated the nights. Many families were forced to relocate to areas farther from the border for safety.

Rana Tariq Mahmood, a local resident, opined that India was a cowardly enemy that always attacked Pakistan in the dark of the night. "Several drone attacks were carried out by India in Lahore, but we had no fear or panic and work was going on as usual. However, at night, we had to shift our women and children to areas behind the BRB canal," said Mahmood.

Similarly, other locals had to stop harvesting their crops near the zero line. Muhammad Sabir Numbardar, a resident of a village near the Zero Line, revealed that his wheat crop was ready, but it had not been harvested from the fields. "After the air strikes and drone infiltration by India, security officials had prohibited people from going near the Zero Line," informed Sabir.

In this tense atmosphere, the educational activities of children living in cities and border areas were also halted since the government had closed schools twice this week while the board and Cambridge exams were also canceled. Two students, Zainab and Mubeen, who were appearing for their intermediate exams, were supposed to take their practical examinations on Thursday and Friday. "Due to the conflict, these exams were canceled and we do not know when they will be held again."

Asma Aftab, a mother from a border area, revealed that her children were in school when India had carried out the drone attack on Thursday. "I was extremely anxious, as I waited for my children to safely return home. Later, we left our homes in the border area and retreated several kilometers into Lahore. During the 1965 war, the enemy had reached the BRB canal, but our army did not let the soldiers advance beyond the canal. Therefore, people consider the BRB as the defensive canal of Lahore and feel that they are safe behind it," claimed Asma.

On the other hand, Muhammad Hussain Mayo, a resident of Wagah, believed that during the conflict, areas far from the border were no less dangerous than those near. "This was not a conventional land war since both the countries were engaged in air combat. In this situation, people living close to the border were actually safer than those in the cities since in the event of a war, the missiles would pass over us and target other settlements," shrugged Mayo.

Such concerns were one reason why people in residential areas behind the BRB, including Askari, Barki, and DHA too were in a state of panic following recurrent drone attacks in Lahore. Although Pakistan's security agencies and district administration had not issued any security alert for evacuation, fake news and notices shared over social media forced many residents to flee their homes.

After the ceasefire, life appears to slowly resume normalcy however, the collective trauma from the tragic events of the past few days still lingers. Whether it's the noise of construction machinery or the sound of a door banging, sudden stimuli reignite the fear of war. As the nation heals from the unwarranted conflict and the accompanying loss of innocent lives, one can only hope that the calculated retaliation of our armed forces instills a towering fear among the war-mongering neighbours, compelling them to think twice the next time their wicked minds incite them to use the blood of Pakistani children to cover up their own intelligence failure.