Weddings Defy War Fears in Azad Kashmir: ‘If War Comes, We’ll Deal With It’
NEELUM VALLEY, Azad Kashmir – As India and Pakistan exchange artillery fire and warnings of war, life—and love—goes on in the villages along the Line of Control (LoC).
Rabia Bibi, 18, draped in a glittering red dupatta and adorned with gold jewelry, was carried in a flower-laden doli (bridal carriage) to her wedding in Ashkot village. Nearby, the sounds of celebratory drums and laughter mixed with distant echoes of gunfire.
Newlyweds Chaudhry Junaid and Rabia Bibi at their wedding in Ashkot village, May 3. Credit: AFP
“In our childhood, the situation was also like this. We are not afraid—nor will we be,” Bibi told AFP, her voice steady. “We want peace, but we won’t stop living.”
Her groom, Chaudhry Junaid, 23, stood resplendent in a gold-trimmed sherwani and red turban, echoing her defiance. “People are anxious, but we haven’t canceled any traditions. If war comes, we’ll face it then.”
A Region on Edge
The nuclear-armed neighbors have been locked in escalating tensions since the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26. India has accused Pakistan—without evidence—of involvement, while Islamabad denies the claims and demands an independent investigation.
With Indian PM Narendra Modi granting his military “full operational freedom” and Pakistan conducting missile tests to showcase readiness, global powers urge restraint. Yet in Azad Kashmir, emergency drills, food stockpiling, and school closures signal preparation for the worst.
Love in the Shadow of Conflict
Further down the Neelum Valley, mechanical engineer Shoaib Akhtar, 25, celebrated his wedding surrounded by family. “This is the happiest day of my life. If India has issues, we don’t care,” he said. “We stand firm.”
For decades, Kashmiris on both sides of the LoC have endured the brunt of hostilities. Yet, as Bibi’s mother-in-law remarked while adjusting her bridal finery, “Fear won’t feed us, and it won’t stop our joy.”
