THE people of Kargil and Ladakh, who became refugees after the war in 1971, are living a miserable life in various areas of Gilgit Baltistan especially and all over Pakistan. After the 1971 war many families in these areas were compelled to migrate to Pakistan. These families are now divided on both sides of the border of Pakistan and India.

Now even after 41 years these divided families do not get a chance to meet each other.

As confidence-building measures between India and Pakistan are getting better with the opening of roads on both sides of the Kashmir region, it is the need of the hour to also look forward to allow the divided families of Kargil and Ladakh settled in Baltistan to meet each other.

This will help to further normalise relations between the two neighbours.

BASHARAT BALTISTANI Rawalpindi