Fifty years of war, a dire catastrophe worths not to celebrate

Seventy years are about to pass and we are in grave need of revising our history. Glorifying wars without being accustomed to their horrific consequences is a prevalent norm among our societies.

Now two nations India and Pakistan the all time rivals are to celebrate fifty years of a catastrophic battle which lasted for several days resulting mass casualties on both sides. To imagine how horrendous that war was it is enough to state that it was the second largest tank war after the World War Two.

There is a more resounding reason to not to celebrate this war, which is the immigration of 40,000 Kashmiris from Indian held Kashmir to Pakistan held Kashmir and other regions of Pakistan. They fled the war hit zone, mostly LOC and its surroundings to seek refuge in a peaceful place.

My father was one of those refugees who migrated to Azad Kashmir along with his Family. My grandfather who was known as Qazi, a word for respected members of village there was living a happy and prosperous life before war hit there. Leaving all the luxuries of home, their properties, their cattle and all belongings behind when they reached Pakistan held Kashmir, they had not even water to drink. They used to drink water from polluted Mangla Dam reservoir. The hope they came with was the betterment which they never witnessed and till today, after the passage of five decades those immigrants have not seen their hopes come true. From grandfathers to sons and grandsons and now great grandson are yet to get what their ancestors dreamt for.

A view of immigrants slums by the bank of Mangla Dam, Mirpur AK.


We lost our first generation, ruined the second and now third generation is still facing the consequences of the war-forced migration. Those 40,000 immigrants are about 1 million now after 5 decades and hope what we and our ancestors have faced should never be witnessed by anyone else in the world.
This is what wars do to the humanity and we find no reasons to celebrate a war whose consequences are faced by our generations.
We expect India and Pakistan start another war. A war against poverty, a war against injustice and a war of peace.