Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has urged residents who fled their homes during the recent Pakistani shelling to return, stating that a ceasefire understanding is now in place between the two nations. Calling the situation in the Poonch district “war-like,” Abdullah said 80 to 90 percent of the town had been evacuated amid the intense cross-border bombardment, but conditions had now stabilized.
Speaking to reporters after visiting affected areas in Poonch and Surankote, accompanied by cabinet colleague Javed Rana, Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, and MLA Aijaz Jan, Abdullah underscored the need to construct permanent bunkers to safeguard civilians in future escalations. His sons, Zamir and Zahir, were also present during the visit, reflecting the CM’s personal commitment to those impacted.
Abdullah revealed that Poonch witnessed the worst shelling along the Line of Control, with shells falling directly inside populated town areas for the first time. Thirteen civilians lost their lives in the barrage. “My purpose today is to visit the homes where these tragedies occurred,” he said.
He praised the residents of Poonch for maintaining communal harmony in the face of provocation. “Despite such immense pressure, the people upheld unity among Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs,” he noted. Responding to questions about whether religious sites were targeted, Abdullah said the shelling was indiscriminate and reckless, hitting areas around madrassas, temples, dargahs, and gurdwaras, but not intentionally targeting them.
He dismissed Pakistan’s military propaganda, calling it a futile attempt to distort the truth. “They will keep pushing their propaganda, but the reality is known to you, to me, and to the world,” he remarked. Abdullah emphasized that while the situation on the ground has calmed over the past 24 hours, constant vigilance and preparedness remain crucial.
Directives have been issued to administrative heads in Poonch, Rajouri, Jammu, Baramulla, Kupwara, and Bandipora to assess the structural damage and prepare compensation reports. “Until now, our priority was saving lives. Now, we’ll start assessing damages and delivering relief,” Abdullah assured. He also rejected reports that officials had deserted their posts during the shelling. “Not a single deputy commissioner left his station. These are baseless rumours being spread by some in the media,” he said.
