This Article is From Oct 10, 2014

Ground Zero Report: Decline in Border Firing After India Response

International Border: Located right on what's called the Zero Line, parts of the Hiranagar sector in Jammu are a short distance away from Pakistani posts across the International Border. This is where there were some cross-border exchanges overnight, though very few compared to last week. This is a welcome sign for villagers in the area who for the last several days faced intense mortar firing.

To get here, we travelled on a road, which, just 24 hours back, would have been a death wish. 

On the right is Pakistan, there are several Pak bunkers here which have been picking off targets on this road.

We decide to drive through as quickly as possible. Today, the situation is very different - villagers here take us right to what's called the Zero Line.

For the moment, the district administration is very clear - the last 24 hours have been better, but people are not being advised to return to their homes just yet.

Instead, thousands spend their nights in schools being used as camps for displaced people. There is food here, safety, and even some school lessons for children.

Those who have been displaced have had enough and want a return to normalcy. Politics between India and Pakistan, they say, is being played out at a level very distant from their ground reality.

For the moment, what's clear is that a start has been made. The limited cross-border exchanges overnight is an indicator of a very tenuous peace - a peace that needs to be made durable for the ceasefire between India and Pakistan to well and truly return to place.
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