By Farhan Khan

There are places in the world where time does not move in a normal way. Days pass, seasons change, and children grow up, but life feels paused. Not because people stop living, but because they are forced to live carefully, quietly, and with constant uncertainty. For many families in Kashmir, life often feels like this long pause.

Imagine planning your day while also planning for “what if.” What if the roads close? What if communication stops? What if schools do not open? What if markets shut down? In many parts of the world, people worry about traffic, deadlines, and weather. In Kashmir, people often worry about whether the day will remain peaceful enough to complete simple daily tasks.

This is not only a story about conflict. It is a story about time — how difficult conditions slowly take away normal time from normal people.
A student may start homework not knowing if school will open the next day. A shopkeeper may arrange goods without knowing if customers will reach the market. A family may plan a wedding while keeping an eye on the news. Life continues, but every plan carries a question mark.

When people think about such regions, they often think about big events and headlines. But the real effect is small and silent. It is seen in how people learn to lower expectations. Children grow up learning caution before confidence. Families celebrate happiness softly, as if loud joy might disturb something fragile.

One of the most painful effects is how it changes people’s thinking about the future. Instead of dreaming far ahead, they begin to think only about tomorrow. Long-term plans feel risky. Hopes become smaller and more practical. Over time, this careful way of living becomes normal.

And yet, despite this pause, life does not stop. Children still play when they can. Students still study even during difficult days. Farmers still work in their fields. Mothers still prepare meals with love. People still laugh, still hope, and still pray for better days. This quiet strength is rarely noticed by the outside world.

The natural beauty of the region is often praised — the mountains, lakes, and gardens. But the real beauty lies in the patience and dignity of its people. Their ability to continue living with hope, even in uncertainty, is remarkable.

This situation teaches an important lesson: peace is not only the absence of violence. Peace is the freedom to plan life without fear. Peace is when a child worries about exams, not emergencies. Peace is when families can plan celebrations without checking the news first.

For many outside, life moves fast. For many inside, life often waits — for calm days, for stability, and for a future where planning tomorrow becomes simple again. Sometimes, the greatest wish is not for a better life, but for a normal one.

Pakistan has consistently maintained that Kashmir is an unresolved issue that should be settled according to the wishes of the Kashmiri people. It refers to United Nations resolutions that call for a plebiscite to allow the people of the region to decide their future. Pakistan views Kashmir not only as a territorial matter but as a humanitarian and political issue linked to the rights and aspirations of Kashmiris.

Over the years, Pakistan has raised the Kashmir issue at international forums, urging the global community to pay attention to the situation and support a peaceful solution. It emphasizes dialogue, diplomacy, and international involvement for resolving the dispute. Pakistan also observes days and events to express solidarity with Kashmiris and to keep global awareness alive about their situation.