CHAKOTHI / SRINAGAR — Schools reopened Tuesday on both sides of the Line of Control, as India and Pakistan edged cautiously toward normalcy following four days of intense cross-border fighting that killed dozens of civilians and displaced thousands.
The reopening came three days after the nuclear-armed rivals agreed to a ceasefire on Saturday (May 10), halting one of the deadliest escalations in years between the two countries. The truce followed a series of missile and drone strikes that targeted military installations in response to a deadly attack last month on Hindu tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 men.
India said it had struck nine “terrorist infrastructure” sites in Pakistan and Pakistani-administered Kashmir on Wednesday (May 7), blaming Islamist militants supported across the border. Islamabad has denied any involvement in the attack and called for an independent investigation.
In Chakothi, a town near the Line of Control in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, attendance at schools remained sparse as many residents were still returning from safer areas where they had taken refuge during Indian shelling. A local principal said many families were waiting for more sustained calm before resettling in their homes.
On the Indian side, schools also resumed in border districts affected by last week’s hostilities, with foot traffic slowly picking up in local markets. Authorities remain on high alert, and the fragile ceasefire is being closely monitored.
The latest round of violence has underscored the enduring volatility of the Kashmir region, long a flashpoint between India and Pakistan, who have fought two of their three wars over the territory and continue to claim it in full.
Despite the ceasefire, concerns persist over the potential for renewed hostilities if underlying tensions remain unresolved.
