How Silikote celebrated Independence Day on LOC in Kashmir

Srinagar: Less than fifty people gathered on Friday morning in the backyard of a community centre to unfurl the national flag in Silikote and celebrate the Independence Day, in a remote village on Line of Control (LoC) in Uri, less than hundred kilometers from Srinagar, the summer capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The unfurled flag hung on a long metallic rod, staring towards an opposite Pakistani post at a distance of 400 meters. The children, along with soldiers deployed along the LoC in Silikote, sang national anthem, and patriotic songs, under a huge walnut tree. Their loud cries reverberating in the surrounding mountains.

The curious Pakistani soldiers stood outside their post on a ridge of opposite mountain, which is divided by concertina wires- although not indicating the actual Line of Control - between India and Pakistan.

Siliokte is a village of hundred odd houses and a “vulnerable spot for target by forces across the LOC”, a young officer of the Indian Army, who was not authorized to speak to media, said.

Once, the artillery shell would land on rooftop of these houses. The Sawan Patra post of Pakistani Army, overlooking the village lies on the right hand side of Silikote.

Guns have stopped roaring on LoC, so the Independence Day celebrations are held in open. The villagers throng the open ground and sang songs parsing the velour of heroes of 1965 war, which witnessed much of the displacement in this village. It was followed by distribution of sweets by army, most of the residents remain dependent on army for work. “We never miss this function. We celebrate it together and this day is very special for us,” Abdul Lateef,32, said.

A ceasefire between India and Pakistan since late November 2003 had provided the much-needed relief to the residents of this non-descript village. On 26 November 2003, both nations had agreed on a ceasefire, coinciding with Eid festival, in the first formal truce between the two armies since the outbreak of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir. Guns along the LoC, International Border and in Siachen Glacier fell silent the next day. The then directors general of military operations of India and Pakistan — Lieutenant General BS Takhar and Major General Mohammed Yousuf – had spoken over hotline and wrapped up the truce deal. The announcement was made simultaneously in New Delhi and Islamabad.

But the calm was broken on 12 September 2013 when an exchange of gunfire took place between the forces from two countries. Since then nations have accused each other of violating the ceasefire an unwritten ceasefire agreement, but thankfully the firing has not happened in Silikote.

Independence Day celebrations are, although are not new here, but the peace which has prevailed from last some years is new. And the residents say, they pray the prevailing peace remains forever.

The armies of India and Pakistan have exchanged sweets on 14 and 15 of August in Uri, a rare distinction.

The village of Silikote lies on now closed Poonch- Rawlakote road, its residents, says Ghulam Qadir Chalkoo, 65, have seen nothing but devastation, killings and migration. “But now peace had prevailed from sometime, and we wish it continues,” Chalkoo said. Once a wealthy and prosperous village Silikote was among the most congested village in border town of Uri. The fortunes of its residents had flourished during the time of Maharaja, says Chalkoo, as it used be the hub for the Kashmir oldest trade route. But then the road was closed and people started migrating to plains in search of jobs and work. The war of 1965 devastated the strength of its residents and the they moved to plains. Few came back after leaders of India and Pakistan signed a peace agreement on 10 January 1966 - the Tashkent Declaration after the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.

At the flag hoisting ceremony, which since 1967 has never been missed, Qadir Dar, a seventy-year-old resident, remembered the times of peace and uncertainty.

“We used to live always in uncertainly and a threat, that any time we will die. But things have changed. Whenever we hear news about ceasefire violations, we get scared and think it might happen here too,” Dar said.

Residents hope that guns would fell silent forever and they, like in the war of 1965 and the countless other unknown ones, will have never migrate again.

The peace and a good life for us, Lateed Dar, a resident says, means not crawling but walking without being shot at.

Meanwhile in rest of the Kashmir a complete shutdown was observed on a call given by the separatist outfits. Authorities have put in place a three tire security arrangement and an undeclared curfew has been imposed in the most violate areas of old city Srinagar.