Despite India-Pakistan war clouds over Pahalgam terror attack, life remains calm in Punjab border villages

NAUSHERA DHALLA (TARN TARAN DISTRICT): Untouched by the reports of looming conflict, daily life in the border villages along the Indo-Pak international border in Punjab flows with quiet determination. The farmers work their fields, some beyond the border fence, as they always did. The routine of tending to their crops, livestock, and agricultural tasks persists, undeterred by external narratives.
On Thursday, TOI visited border villages such as Naushera Dhalla, Havelian, Chinna, Bharopal, Rajatal, and Daoke, finding life unchanged and serene.
Locals gather at village chowks, sit under trees, sip tea, and discuss daily routines. While the recent Indo-Pak war hysteria has become a topic of conversation, they contrast it with the days of Operation Parakram, when the Army laid landmines along the border, forcing them to evacuate their homes.
The villagers, however, expressed frustration at the portrayal of their region as a powder keg. "We only hear about this so-called ‘tension' from our relatives who call us after watching the news," said Manjinder Singh, a farmer from Naushera Dhalla. "They think war is about to break out, but here we are, going about our daily chores," he said.
Eager to address the propaganda in ‘fuelling war hype', Manjinder convened a discussion at Gurdwara Bhagat Jalan Das Ji, located just a few acres from the barbed fence along the Indo-Pak international border. He informed fellow villagers, who promptly gathered at the gurdwara, which also houses a ‘Shivala Mandir' in its complex. "Did you see us packing bags, hoarding rations, searching for safer places, or grief on our faces? Tell the truth," said an elderly resident, Baldev Singh.
He also invited the TOI reporter for a stroll to a nearby tubewell for a clear view of the barbed fence, where Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were patrolling calmly, indicating normalcy of life in the border village.
The villagers were also quick to dismiss comparisons to past conflicts, such as Operation Parakram in 2001-2002, when evacuations were ordered to lay mines. "If there was any real threat, the BSF, Army, or district administration would have informed us by now," said sarpanch Mangal Singh. "The only instruction we've received is to harvest crops beyond the fence, which we believe is to ensure clear visibility across the border. That's routine, not a cause for alarm," he said.
Harpal Singh, while gesturing toward the fields, said that life continues to be normal for the villagers. "War isn't a game or a TV show. It brings real devastation, something the younger generation, glued to screens, doesn't understand," he said.
However, despite their irritation, the villagers also indicated their preparedness. "We're not naive. We've lived on the border all our lives and know how to handle any situation," said Shamsher Singh, who was quick to add, "There's no need to panic when nothing is happening."
Mukhtiar Singh, sarpanch of Havelian village, said villagers moved to safety during Operation Parakram, but there are no such orders so far. The panic will start once they are asked to evacuate their houses, adding that for now, life in these border villages is normal.
Jarnail Singh recalled that during Operation Parakram, massive troop deployments and extensive mine-laying severely disrupted life along the border, forcing many villagers to relocate temporarily. "To this day, no such drastic measures have been taken in the border villages of Punjab," he said.
Manjinder said that there is a strong sentiment across the nation demanding retaliation for the Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attack in Pahalgam, a sentiment intensified by provocative statements from Pakistani political leaders. "Back in December 2001, after the deadly terror attack on the Indian Parliament, India mobilised troops to the Pakistan border in preparation for a potential all-out war. The operation lasted nearly 10 months, during which we were asked to evacuate, and landmines were laid along the border areas. As of now, however, there has been no such warning from the Army to evacuate villages or limit our daily activities," he said.
While showing an ‘owner gate pass' issued by BSF for the farmers for going beyond the border fence, he said the BSF has not even stopped the farmers from going across the border fence to work in their fields, so how should we think of any emergency immediately?