Border villagers in India express war-related apprehensions due to tensions with Pakistan.

Base Article Rewritten:

In 1999 and 1971, our villages saw some hard times, Hardev shared, referencing two of the most gruesome outbreaks of violence between our neighbors, India and Pakistan.

"We were forced to vacate our homes and seek refuge in safer shelters," he explained, "Our elderly men were the only ones who stayed behind, making sure our homes weren't looted."

Tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors have plummeted, following India's accusations that Pakistan was behind a deadly attack on civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22. Pakistan vehemently denied the charge, and both nations have since exchanged gunfire, traded diplomatic insults, expelled citizens, and ordered the border shut.

As of now, villagers on the front lines in India's Punjab state report no noticeable changes on the ground, yet a sense of unease about the weeks to come is growing.

"The heinous attack on the civilians in Kashmir was tragic, but the losses can't be undone," Hardev said, "Any war would set us both back significantly, resulting in even more loss of human life."

A barbed-wire fence guarded by soldiers snakes through the farmlands near Daoke, home to roughly 1,500 people.

Gurvinder Singh, 38, remembers the last major conflict in 1999. Fighting then took place far from Punjab and left the village's farmlands untouched.

"Mines were planted on our fields, and we couldn't work," Gurvinder recalled, "I hope that if this new conflict breaks out, our village will be spared."

"We believe that the fighting will occur primarily in the Himalayas," Gurvinder added, "Right now, things are just as they were before."

'Not Just Us'

In the neighboring frontier village of Rajatal, the memory of golden farmland stretching limitlessly is still vivid. The border, created as a colonial division in 1947 at the end of British rule, divides the subcontinent into Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan.

Sardar Lakha Singh, now 77 years old, recalls the days before the fence was erected.

"We used to graze our cattle on the open grounds on the other side of the border," Lakha shared, settling about 100 meters from fences topped with barbed wire.

Farmers can secure special passes to reach areas near the border, including areas beyond the fence but still within Indian territory. However, they must always be accompanied by a soldier.

"We can't go there whenever we want," said 65-year-old farmer Gurvil Singh, "This limits the time we have to work on our fields."

A wave of panic swept through border villages last week due to rumors about farmers being stopped from accessing fields close to Pakistan's border.

Sikh elder Sardar Lakha Singh tried to calm younger villagers, saying, "Whatever happens will happen regardless. We didn't know when the 1965 war suddenly started, the same in 1971 when planes suddenly crossed the border."

"Gurvinder Singh, 35, tried to learn from his family's history," the text continues, "He believes that this conflict, if it happens, will be high-tech and impact the entire country - not just us."

Enrichment Data (Selective Use):

Historically, border villages like Daoke and Rajatal experienced mass displacement and security measures during wars such as the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War and 1999 Kargil conflict.In recent years, villagers have expressed anxiety about potential conflict and reported increased vigilance from the Border Security Force (BSF), much like in past conflicts. These recent patterns seem to mirror historical experiences, though specific accounts of 1971 and 1999 are not provided in this article. For more detailed historical analysis, archival records or region-focused historical analyses would be necessary.

1.Hardev expressed concerns about a potential war between India and Pakistan, stating that any war would result in significant setbacks and additional loss of human life.

2.Gurvinder Singh, a resident of Daoke, hopes that in case of a new conflict, his village will be spared, recalling how mines were planted on their fields during the 1999 conflict.

3.Sardar Lakha Singh, a 77-year-old resident of Rajatal, reminisced about the days when they could graze their cattle on the open grounds on the other side of the border before the fence was erected.

4.Gurvil Singh, a 65-year-old farmer in Rajatal, expressed frustration about being limited in the time he has to work on his fields due to the need for a soldier's accompaniment when accessing areas near the border.