SRINAGAR: Amid renewed attention on border tensions and the fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday issued a sharp rebuke to television anchors who, he said, are disconnected from the ground realities and are clamouring for conflict from the comfort of newsrooms.
“We all want the ceasefire to remain intact,” Abdullah told reporters during his visit to Tangdhar in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. “Only the anchors of a few TV channels, who sit far away from here in Noida and Bombay, do not like the ceasefire.”
Taking a direct swipe at sections of the media, Abdullah said it was the people living near the Line of Control (LoC) and those in conflict-hit areas like Jammu and Srinagar who have the greatest stake in peace. “They want a ceasefire. It is a good thing. This ceasefire should remain intact.”
During my visit to Tangdhar today, I saw homes and vehicles lay charred by relentless shelling. The scale of destruction is heartbreaking.
Standing with the affected families in this hour of grief. We will do everything possible to support them and help rebuild what has been… pic.twitter.com/3jH7GXKq2d— Office of Chief Minister, J&K (@CM_JnK) May 13, 2025
The Chief Minister’s remarks come as border residents are still recovering from the effects of recent cross-border shelling. Abdullah spent the day touring affected areas, meeting families, and assessing the damage. He assured that the district administration would complete its evaluation and that compensation would be paid accordingly.
He also announced a shift in policy regarding civilian safety in vulnerable border areas. “Community bunkers had been built earlier but they were not used for a long time. No new bunker has come up in many years. Wherever I went, people said we should build individual bunkers,” he said.
Abdullah said the government would soon frame a policy for constructing individual bunkers for residents near the border and LoC. The scheme, he said, would be taken up with the central government for support.
On the social media platform X, the Chief Minister shared his reflections on the visit: “Visited the shelling-affected areas of Tangdhar and met families who have shown remarkable courage amidst deep pain. Their resilience is inspiring. The government stands shoulder to shoulder with them, their pain will not go unnoticed, and every possible step will be taken to help them rebuild their lives with dignity and renewed hope.”
Abdullah also underlined the importance of robust civilian defence structures. “These structures are a lifeline during moments of crisis. We will ensure the construction of more such safer spaces to protect and support our people living in border areas.”
As demands for peace grow louder in the affected regions, Abdullah’s comments highlight a widening gulf between the lived experiences of border communities and the prime-time narratives pushed by some national television channels. His visit has reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to safeguarding the lives and dignity of border residents while resisting media-driven calls for escalation.
