Tensions rise in Daoke village amid escalating India-Pakistan conflict

Villagers in Daoke express growing anxiety as India and Pakistan exchange gunfire over Kashmir attack.

A man rides a motorcycle along a path near the India-Pakistan border fencing in Daoke village, approximately 45 km from Amritsar, on April 27, 2025. Photo by Narinder Nanu/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

In the shadow of increasing tensions between India and Pakistan, Daoke, a village situated on the volatile border in India's Punjab state, is once again gripped by anxiety. This small settlement, enclosed by a fence on three sides and with a population of around 1,500 people, has lived through multiple wars between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Now, as the latest escalation in Kashmir raises fears of more violence, residents like 65-year-old Hardev Singh are bracing for the worst.

Having witnessed the ravages of past conflicts, Hardev recalls the procedures that were put in place during previous wars, notably in 1971 and 1999. During those tumultuous years, when hostilities erupted, women, children, livestock, and young men were evacuated to safe shelters while only the elderly men remained behind to protect the homes from looters. Hardev said, "We couldn't go to our fields... only the older men stayed behind to ensure that our homes were not looted."

The recent escalation began when India accused Pakistan of being behind a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22, 2025. Pakistan has denied these allegations, and the subsequent exchange of gunfire across the de facto border in Kashmir has only exacerbated the growing tensions. Diplomatic relations between the two nations have further deteriorated, with both sides expelling citizens, issuing sharp diplomatic statements, and closing borders. However, despite the heightened rhetoric and military posturing, the situation on the ground in border villages like Daoke remains relatively calm for now, though the sense of impending crisis is palpable.

Hardev, despite the tragedies of the past, remains hopeful but cautious. "The barbaric attack on the civilians in Kashmir was tragic, but no matter what, the lives lost are not coming back," he said. "Any war would push both our countries back by many years, and there would be an even bigger loss of human lives." His thoughts reflect the broader sentiment among the villagers, who are not just worried about their immediate future but the lasting impact a full-scale war could have on the entire region.

A border fence cuts through the fertile lands near Daoke, physically dividing the agricultural community. Gurvinder Singh, a 38-year-old farmer who vividly remembers the 1999 Kargil War, shared his experiences of the conflict that, although geographically distant, still had consequences for their community. "Mines were planted on our fields, and we could not work," Gurvinder recalled. Despite the scars left by previous wars, he remains hopeful that this time, his village will be spared. "We feel that the actual conflict would happen only in the Himalayas," he added, stressing that, for now, life in Daoke is "normal."

A short distance away, the village of Rajatal, situated between Amritsar and Lahore, shares a similar sense of unease. The region's history is shaped by the partition of British India in 1947, which created a violent divide between the newly-formed nations of India and Pakistan. Sardar Lakha Singh, 77, who has lived through decades of tension, fondly remembers the days before the border fence was erected. "We used to go to the open ground on the other side to graze our cattle," he said, reflecting on a time when movement across the border was less restricted. Today, however, even the farmers who are granted special passes to work near the border must be accompanied by soldiers, reducing the time they can spend on their fields. "We can't go there whenever we want," said 65-year-old farmer Gurvil Singh. "This reduces the time we get to work on our fields."

Recent rumors have fueled panic among villagers in Rajatal, especially after suggestions surfaced that farmers would soon be prohibited from accessing lands too close to Pakistan. The fear of escalating conflict is tangible, but some elders, like Sardar Lakha Singh, urge the younger generation to accept the uncertainty. "Whatever is going to happen will happen anyway," he said, citing past wars, such as the 1965 and 1971 conflicts, when hostilities erupted without warning. "We didn't know when the 1965 war suddenly started, same in 1971 when the planes suddenly started crossing the border," he added.

For younger villagers like Gurvinder Singh, 35, there is a sense of resignation but also a quiet understanding of the technological advances that have transformed warfare. "It would be a high-tech war, and not an invasion or a battle of swords like the past," he explained. His perspective reflects the broader shift in how the residents view potential conflict—while they acknowledge the threat of violence, they understand that the nature of modern warfare would be far different from the direct battles of the past.

In these border villages, the constant sense of waiting for the next escalation is as much a part of life as the work in the fields. The looming threat of war is nothing new for those who have lived through decades of tension, but the uncertainty of the current crisis weighs heavily on them. The continuing skirmishes between Indian and Pakistani forces, combined with the rhetoric from both sides, suggests that this fragile peace could soon be shattered.

Hardev Singh, like many others in Daoke, hopes that the worst can be avoided. But the uneasy calm in the village is broken only by the occasional rumble of military convoys or the sound of distant gunfire. The people of Daoke, Rajatal, and other border villages know that despite their best efforts to continue with daily life, the shadow of conflict remains ever-present.

As India and Pakistan continue to exchange hostile rhetoric and military maneuvers, the future remains uncertain for the people living on the frontlines. For now, the villagers of Daoke and Rajatal hold onto the hope that their land will remain untouched by the destruction that has marked the history of their region. But with tensions mounting, they are once again left waiting, watching, and wondering if their past will come to haunt them once more.