MUSCAT: Indian and Pakistan migrants in Oman are calling for peace in the wake of the rising tension between the two countries.

According to many, war is not a solution for Indo-Pak problems; holding a dialogue between both countries is the only way to resolve the issues as war will be disastrous for the people in both the countries.

On Tuesday early morning, the Indian government claimed that 12 Indian fighter jets bombed JeM terror camps in Balkot, Pakistan, crossing the Line of Control.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) bombed terror camps at multiple locations across the Line of Control (LoC) on the Pakistani side in a pre-dawn strike, 12 days after the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) carried out the Pulwama attack in Kashmir.

The February 14 suicide attack by JeM terror group had claimed 40 CRPF soldiers in Pulwama.

India had launched a major diplomatic offensive against Islamabad after the Pulwama attack and highlighted Pakistan’s role in using terrorism as an instrument of state policy.

It is very frightening to see our countries battle this way. There has to be a peaceful co-existence and dialogue is the only solution to everybody’s problem.

Amjad Iqbal, Pakistani Coffee Shop Owner

India had asked Pakistan to take immediate and verifiable action against terrorists and terror groups operating from territories under its control.

New Delhi also announced the withdrawal of the Most Favoured Nation status for Pakistan and hiked the customs duty by 200 percent on goods originating from Pakistan.

However, Pakistan was reportedly in a denial mode.

According to the Indian government, the air raid is not an act of war but a strike against terrorism. However, the Pakistan government called the raid as grave aggression from the Indian side.

“It is very frightening to see our countries battle this way. There has to be a peaceful co-existence and dialogue is the only solution to everybody’s problem. There is no way of tackling terrorism with violence and hatred,” Amjad Iqbal, a Pakistani migrant who runs a coffee shop in Hamriyah, told The Arabian Stories.

“War is not at all good to any countries. We don’t want a war between our countries. The pleasant relations and good friendship between Indians and Pakistani living in Oman is a clear example that we as a people don’t hate each other,” the Pakistani migrant said adding that people promoting enmity and aggression should be discouraged.

Majority of those who spoke to The Arabian Stories told that war will bring poverty and scarcity which will be a huge blow for both India and Pakistan.

“What is happening is pure politics. The governments and people in power should ensure that people at ground level should not suffer in both the countries as we cannot afford war,” Krishnakumar, an Indian migrant, said.

Mohammed Naseem, a Pakistani living in Oman, also voiced the same opinion. “War is not the answer in this era, we have lessons from the past,” he said.

He also believes that most of the reactions by the people after India’s air strike on Tuesday morning are without understanding the consequences of war.

“Sentiments are running high on both the sides, but in times like this, it is important to exercise restraint and be responsible. Common people on both sides of the border want peace and any mindless violence is an act of terrorism where both countries suffer,” said Mehruddin KS, a Pakistani migrant, who works at a printing press in Oman.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday night, Indian media reported that the Pakistan army Tuesday resorted to heavy mortar shelling on 55 forward areas in Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts.

“The Pakistan army used heavy weaponry, firing 120 mm mortars targeting civilian hamlets and forward posts since 1730 hours Tuesday,” an army officer told PTI.

They fired from small, automatic and heavy weaponry in Krishna Gati, Balakot, Khari Karmara, Mankote, Tarkundi (Poonch district), Kalal, Baba Khori, Kalsian, Laam and Jhangar areas (Rajouri) and Pallanwala and Laleali (Jammu), the officer added.

There was no injury or loss of life in the ceasefire violations, the officer said, adding that Indian troops gave a “befitting reply” to the firing.

According to officials, more than a dozen ceasefire violations took place on Tuesday– the fourth consecutive day of Pakistan shelling and firing on Indian posts.

Panic has gripped the border areas and some locals have left their homes and moved to safer areas, reports said.

The year 2018 had witnessed the highest number of ceasefire violations – 2,936 – by Pakistani troops in the last 15 years along the Indo-Pak border.

Amid mounting tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pulwama terror attack and increasing ceasefire violations, the people along the LoC and the International Border (IB) in the region are living under intense fear.