Introduction
In the verdant valleys of Kashmir, where snowcapped mountains cradle both beauty and conflict, a fragile calm has taken root. The 2021 ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan was welcomed by many in the region as a rare and necessary reprieve from the cross-border violence that has scarred lives for decades. Yet, beneath the surface of tentative peace, a complex web of fear, fatigue, and unresolved tensions persists.You know about theglobespot, andaazdaily, openrendz and kashmir ceasefire 2025 also Buzzfeed.
For the people of Kashmir, the ceasefire is not merely a diplomatic milestone—it is a pause in a generational saga marked by conflict, political upheaval, and broken promises. While the guns may have fallen silent, the yearning for a permanent solution remains louder than ever.
A History Written in Conflict
Kashmir has been a focal point of tension between India and Pakistan since the Partition of 1947. Both nations claim the region in full but control parts of it. The Line of Control (LoC), established after the 1949 ceasefire brokered by the United Nations, has witnessed frequent skirmishes, artillery shelling, and incursions. The toll on human life, property, and mental health has been staggering.
The Kashmir ceasefire 2021 came as a surprise move. On February 25, both militaries issued a joint statement agreeing to uphold the 2003 ceasefire agreement. For many observers, this announcement signaled an unexpected thaw in bilateral relations—particularly against the backdrop of heightened nationalism and military posturing on both sides.
A Welcome Pause
The ceasefire brought immediate and tangible relief. For the residents of border villages such as Uri, Tangdhar, Poonch, and Rajouri, the absence of artillery fire has been life-changing.
“Before the ceasefire, we couldn’t even step outside after sunset,” says Firdous Ahmed, a resident of Kupwara district. “Our children were traumatized. Now, they can go to school. We can farm again.”
Farmers returned to their fields, children resumed classes without the looming threat of sudden shelling, and families began to rebuild their shattered homes. For many, the silence was deafening—but in a welcome way.
Fatigue and Fear: The Invisible Wounds
Yet, even as the dust settled, the psychological wounds remained open. The trauma of years under conflict has left many Kashmiris deeply skeptical.
“There have been many ceasefires before. They don’t last,” says Shameema Bano, a school teacher in Baramulla. “We want peace, not another pause. We want a permanent solution.”
The emotional toll of decades-long conflict has created a population fatigued by uncertainty. Mental health clinics across Kashmir report increasing cases of anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Children born into conflict have grown up with the sound of gunfire as background noise. For them, peace is an unfamiliar concept, almost alien.
The Political Landscape
The ceasefire of 2021 cannot be viewed in isolation. It came nearly two years after the Indian government revoked Article 370, which granted Jammu and Kashmir a degree of autonomy. The move was controversial and prompted a communications blackout, mass detentions, and sharp criticism from international human rights groups.
The political reorganization of the region has left many Kashmiris disillusioned. Without an elected government since 2018, the region is administered directly by New Delhi. Local leaders have repeatedly called for the restoration of democratic processes, warning that the absence of dialogue could reignite unrest.
The ceasefire, in this context, appears as a limited concession—one that addresses cross-border violence without tackling the internal political crisis within Kashmir.
India-Pakistan Dynamics
The decision to reaffirm the 2003 ceasefire agreement was reportedly the result of backchannel diplomacy facilitated by the UAE and other international stakeholders. Analysts suggest that both India and Pakistan had strategic reasons to de-escalate.
India, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the China border crisis in Ladakh, had reasons to reduce tensions on multiple fronts. Pakistan, facing economic difficulties and FATF scrutiny, also stood to benefit from a de-escalation.
Despite the ceasefire, however, fundamental issues remain unresolved—chief among them, the status of Kashmir itself. While Pakistan insists on Kashmir’s right to self-determination, India maintains it as an integral part of the union. This impasse continues to define the bilateral relationship.
Voices from the Valley
Conversations with ordinary Kashmiris reveal a blend of hope, skepticism, and deep yearning. For many, peace is not simply the absence of war—it is justice, representation, and dignity.
“Peace means my father doesn’t get picked up for questioning every time something happens in the town,” says Nasir Lone, a 22-year-old student in Anantnag. “It means I can post online without fear. It means I can dream.”
Women, particularly, have borne the brunt of the conflict—losing husbands, raising children alone, and navigating a militarized landscape. “We are tired,” says Parveena Ahangar, founder of the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP). “We want the world to hear us. A ceasefire doesn’t erase the past.”
Economic Fallout and Hopes for Revival
Kashmir’s economy, particularly tourism and agriculture, suffered deeply due to both the political lockdown in 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic. The ceasefire has offered a sliver of hope.
Tour operators report a modest uptick in bookings. Apple growers and handicraft artisans, long starved of stable markets, have started to see demand return. But the gains remain precarious.
“To sustain peace, we need jobs, investment, and education,” says Gulzar Ahmad, a local entrepreneur. “Otherwise, young people will continue to fall into despair and some into militancy.”
The Security Challenge
Despite the ceasefire, insurgency and militant recruitment remain serious concerns. Security forces continue operations against militants, and encounters are frequent. Intelligence reports suggest that infiltration attempts across the LoC, while reduced, have not ceased entirely.
The government has launched several outreach programs, including youth engagement drives and infrastructure development, but critics argue that without genuine political dialogue, such measures are cosmetic.
Ceasefire or Calm Before the Storm?
Analysts remain divided on the long-term prospects of the ceasefire. While some see it as a strategic recalibration that could open the door to future dialogue, others view it as a tactical move with a limited shelf life.
“The ceasefire is a good start, but it’s not peace,” says a senior journalist based in Srinagar. “Without addressing the aspirations of Kashmiris, without involving them in the political process, it will not last.”
Pakistan, too, has emphasized that the ceasefire should be a step toward resolving the Kashmir dispute. However, with no formal dialogue process currently underway, and with elections looming in both countries in the coming years, political will appears limited.
International Response
The global community has welcomed the ceasefire, with the UN Secretary-General, the U.S. State Department, and the EU all issuing statements of support. Human rights organizations have urged both countries to follow up with confidence-building measures and human rights reforms.
Diaspora Kashmiris, particularly in the UK and North America, have organized seminars, awareness campaigns, and petitions calling for a lasting resolution that centers the voices of Kashmiris themselves.
Conclusion: A Cry for Permanence
The 2021 Kashmir ceasefire is undeniably a significant development. It has saved lives, restored a semblance of normalcy, and opened a small window of hope. But hope, in Kashmir, has often been a short-lived guest.
What the people of Kashmir want is not another temporary fix. They want agency, justice, and a future free from fear. They want a permanent solution—one that doesn’t just silence guns but heals wounds. The silence along the LoC may be golden, but without structural change and genuine dialogue, it risks becoming yet another fleeting pause in a saga of suffering.
As one elder in Sopore aptly put it: “Peace is not just a treaty between two countries. Peace is when our children no longer learn to hide from bullets before they learn to write.”
