Border students suffer amid India-Pakistan tensions

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Source: CCTV.com | 02-17-2009 09:55

Along the Line of Control between India and Pakistan, there's a small middle school in SARIYA village. Students there are suffering as tensions escalate between the neighbours.

Indian Border Security Force soldiers patrol by horseback at the western sector of the India-Pakistan International  Border Post at the village Hindu Malkot, in January.  Senior US diplomat Richard Holbrooke was set for talks  with Indian leaders on Monday expected to focus on the  global threat from Pakistan-based militants in the wake  of the Mumbai attacks.(AFP/File)

'Sadbhavna Middle School' is located right on the India-Pakistan border.

The region has been the frontline of their rivalry and unrest for over 60 years.

The innocent children might not be aware of the political developments between the two nations. But they are certainly aware that if the school closes down, they would lose another academic year.

Mangat Ram, school teacher, said, "We pray to God that both the countries, India and Pakistan that should live like brothers so that residents across the border live a peaceful life. We want both the nations to aim at developing their economies and set an example for peace and harmony for the world."

At the Line of Control, the two armies regularly exchange fire, although that has dropped considerably since a peace process began in 2004.

But relations have recently simmered, with India blaming the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group for the Mumbai attacks.

India cautiously welcomed Pakistan's investigation into the Mumbai attacks on Friday, in a sign that diplomatic tension between the two countries could wane.

Editor:Zhang Yun