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Hope wells up in Uri

Mukhtar Ahmad In Uri

For Mohammad Akram, 47-years-old and living in the frontier village of Uri in Kashmir, nothing could be more wonderful.

He is unable to believe his ears when told of a possibility that he might be able to visit his relatives across the Line Of Control in the near future following Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's announcement of the opening of the Srinagar-Muzzafarabad road.

"My father died with such a hope," said Akram with tears rolling down his eyes.

He added that his father's last words were for him to come to his grave and shout that the border has been opened and restrictions on movement lifted.

He wanted to meet his brother and other relatives living on the other side, a visibly moved Akram said.

However, Akram is not all that bothered with the outcome of the Indo-Pak summit. All that matters to him is the opening of the road to Muzzafarabad, where more than 60 percent of his relatives live.

There was virtual euphoria in the Uri town, which is the last post on the road from Srinagar to Muzzafarabad on this side of the Line of Control.

The town also has the prospect of becoming like the Wagah-Attari border, the one point from which travellers between India and Pakistan could cross over.

The question on everybody's lips in Uri main market was 'whether or not the road will be re-opened'.

The market was humming with activity with the Uri elders and students all discussing the sudden development. The town is heavily guarded with paramilitary and army troops deployed in strength.

Such was the rush in the market that Jammu and Kashmir police and army soldiers had to clear the road for passing army trucks carrying soldiers and supplies to the frontline.

"The situation in Uri and adjoining areas eased ever since both countries decided to exercise maximum restraint all along the LoC. Before that shells would even land in this market," recalls Zahoor Ahmad.

"I think it is too early to say whether or not they will re-open this road," said Ghulam Rasool, a shopkeeper.

"I want to visit Muzzafarabad to meet the family members of my brother who died last year. I made several attempts to visit the family who lost their only bread-winner. However I was stopped at Wagah," he said.

Bus driver Mushtaq Ahmad readying to leave the Uri bus stand towards Baramulla said, "One day I want to take my bus with passengers to Muzzafarabad. It will be a great ride along the river Jhelum."

He, however, added that the day the authorities reconstruct the bridge connecting Uri and the Line of Control only then will travel without restrictions become a reality.

"Till such time I don't believe what they say, " he said.

The road between Srinagar and Muzzafarabad commonly called Rawalpindi road or Jhelum Valley road has been closed ever since the division of the state in 1948.

"It will become a major trade route between Srinagar and Muzzafarbad. The business in Uri will boom once the road is through," said school teacher Ghulam Mohammad.

Indo-Pak Summit 2001: The Complete Coverage

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