War clouds loom, but Kashmir remains calm: No panic buying, only weary resolve

Srinagar:: As tensions rise between India and Pakistan following the recent Pahalgam terror attack, Kashmir is unusually calm, showing none of the panic or rush for essentials that marked previous crises in 2016 and 2019.

Unlike earlier instances when cross-border skirmishes or major attacks triggered waves of fear, hoarding of food, fuel, and medicines, Kashmir’s markets remained composed in recent days. There were no long queues at petrol pumps, no frantic crowds at grocery stores, and no visible signs of a population bracing for immediate war.

For many Kashmiris, this restraint is born not of indifference but exhaustion—a weary resignation from a people who have seen decades of violence and uncertainty.

“We are the worst sufferers, every single time,” said Ghulam Nabi, a shopkeeper in the old city of Srinagar. “Whether it’s a bullet or a bomb, it falls on us. If war is the only solution, then let it happen once and for all. At least we’ll know where we stand.”

The recent Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 civilians dead, has once again raised the spectre of military escalation along the Line of Control.

Yet, the mood in Kashmir is markedly different. In 2016, following the Uri attack, and again in 2019 after the Pulwama suicide bomb attack, rumours of imminent war had emptied store shelves and sent prices soaring.

This time, there is anger and grief, but not fear. Parents, in particular, voiced their anguish over the ripple effects of violence against Kashmiris, especially students, in several parts of the country.

“Every time a terror attack happens, our children studying in other parts of India are heckled, harassed, and sometimes even assaulted,” said Naseema Bano, whose son studies in Chandigarh. “How long do we carry this burden? If something decisive has to happen, better now than dragging it endlessly.”

The resilience on display also reflects a hardening of attitudes within Kashmir. Many residents feel trapped between militants, the military, and politics, with little say in their own fate.

While some still hold on to hopes for peace, the prevailing sentiment is clear: Kashmiris are tired of being collateral in a conflict they did not create.

For now, life in Kashmir continues with a quiet dignity. Shops remain open, children go to school, and the valley watches with stoic eyes as the drums of war beat louder elsewhere.