'We do not want war and suffering', say Kargil locals

Residents in the Kargil and Drass areas of Ladakh division have said that they are not in favour of India and Pakistan engaging in another war, as it will only create more problems for them.

They said that the Kashmir issue should be solved by both sides amicably.

The president of the Buddhist Association told ANI that he had come to meet Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and briefed him about the problems being faced by people in the region.

"Our Kargil is in the vicinity of Pakistan, so we are all worried," he added.

Remembering the 1999 Kargil War with Pakistan, he said it is the poor which suffers the most in such conditions, adding both Asian neighbours must stay united so as to avoid confrontation.

"When there is a war, the poor suffer. Someone will win, someone will lose the war. This is not a good thing," he said.

Shayed Ahmed Rizvi, a local resident, said that the Kashmir issue should be solved through dialogue.

"We have come here to discuss the Kargil issue, given the present situation emerging in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. We do not want division of Kashmir and we want that the locals here must be given justice," he said.

Locals here are still optimistic about India and Pakistan having friendly ties.