Jaipur: As tension is growing between India and China due to the recent border stand-off in the Ladakh region in which 20 soldiers were killed, one wonders what is the prevailing situation on the western side where we share our borders with Pakistan.
To take stock of the situation along the borders of Pakistan- with whom India's relations have mostly been hostile- ETV Bharat arrived in Rajasthan and talked to the locals about their understanding of India's international relations.
Let's know more about the latest situation at the following borders:
Jaisalmer
The border villages Ranau and Girduwala are situated at a distance of 100 km from the district headquarters of Jaisalmer. The International Indo-Pak border is about 35-40 km from there. Villagers residing here told that although at the moment the situation on the western border is normal, Pakistan can commit the nefarious act in the current state of affairs.
In an interaction with 80-year-old villager Bhagwan Singh, ETV Bharat learnt that during the war period, the villagers helped the Indian army in every way they could.
"Conditions were bad during the 1965 and 1971 wars. There were no means of transportation and no drinking water. I, along with other volunteers, used to draw water out of the wells and send it to the army on camels," told Singh in a nostalgic voice. If such situation demands, I will again support the army at all costs, added Singh.
Barmer
Tamlore is a village adjacent to the Indo-Pak border in Barmer, where even at a temperature of 50 degrees Celsius, the country's bravehearts are deployed along the border with vigilance.
Mishri Singh, a resident of Tamlore village in his message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said that China should be given a befitting reply in the same way as we deal with Pakistan.
Sri Ganganagar
BSF personnel on the Indo-Pak International Border are keeping an eye on Pakistan's activities and is ready to deal with any kind of situation. Talking about the latest state of the Hindumalkot border, there is no visible action from the side of Pakistan as of now. Echoing the same sentiments, villagers here said that they are ready to fight along with the army if the situation demands. BSF and civilians are always ready to defeat the enemy on the international border near Pakistan, especially in Rajasthan, expressed the locals in unison.
Bikaner
Taking this journey forward of knowing the pulse of the people living near the border area, ETV Bharat reached Khajuwala village, situated on the international border of India, adjacent to Pakistan in Bikaner. Here, people were mostly seen engrossed in their everyday activities of farming, animal husbandry and gardening- which are also their way of making a livelihood due to the restrictions imposed on civilians from the security point of view. But despite these restrictions, people here are living a satisfactory life.
Narendra Sarelia, who lives in the border village, said, "There is nothing to worry about right now. If a tensed situation emerges, the evacuation instructions will be followed promptly and if needed we are ready to go to the borders and fight for the country."
Similarly, a villager named Surendra said that under adverse conditions, residents living here will be asked to move from here by the army.
Rajasthan shares a 1,048-km border, adjacent to Pakistan’s Punjab and Sindh provinces.
