CHAKOTHI, Pakistan (AP) — Villagers in Chakothi in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir said Thursday they are frustrated with living in constant fear of fighting along the heavily militarized frontier in the disputed Himalayan region.
Their situation has been exacerbated since India's government, led by the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, imposed a security lockdown and communications blackout just over the Line of Control from Chakothi in Indian-controlled Kashmir, which is majority Muslim.
The move followed the Indian government's Aug. 5 decision to downgrade the region's autonomy, raising tensions with Pakistan and touching off anger in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir.
"India has been killing our brothers and sisters in Indian-occupied Kashmir and the world is silent," 65-year-old Mohammad Nazir Minhas told reporters. "It compels us to say that freedom will come only through war. We are ready."
Journalists were escorted to the village in Pakistan-held Kashmir by the military to show them the plight of villagers living along the frontier. From where Minhas stood, an Indian post could be seen without using binoculars.
Kashmir is split between Pakistan and India, both of whom have nuclear weapons, and is claimed by both in its entirety. Pakistan and India have fought two of their three wars over the disputed region since receiving independence from British rule in 1947.
India on Thursday said it has information that Pakistan is trying to infiltrate "terrorists" into the country to carry out attacks amid rising tensions between the two countries.
Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Ghafoor rejected the Indian claims, saying Pakistan was a responsible state and "we would be insane to allow infiltration" across the Line of Control.
Minhas, who said he lost his...
