Members of the South Asian communities including Pakistan and India in Australia are calling for a de-escalation of the current tense situation between the two countries.
Both countries have ordered air strikes over the past two days while ground forces have exchanged fire in more than a dozen locations.
Tension has been running high since a suicide car bombing by Pakistan-based militants in Indian-controlled Kashmir killed at least 40 Indian paramilitary police on February 14.
Members from the South Asian community say they are deeply concerned with the recent chain of events back home, however they say that the relationship between the two communities here in Australia has always been cordial and is not affected by such incidents.
Pakistani soldiers patrol in the area where India claimed it conducted airstrikes in Jaba, near Balakot, Pakistan, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. Source: AAP
Following are a selection of comments from some of them, sharing their day-to-day relationships and how they view the current conflict between the nuclear powers from down under.
Amrinder Bajwa - Indian community member
"We eat and drink together and celebrate all the festivals all year round. I don’t think there is any issue or problem among us.
"The only solution is to resolve the problems amicably; both sides are mature enough to sort them out.
"Those of us living in Australia, this is our country, our home and we have to live peacefully together, which is more important than anything else."
"We are very good friends with each other. All Pakistanis and Indians live like a family in Australia."
Source: AFP
Mayank – Indian community member
“I am from an Indian background have a lot of Pakistani friends in Sydney.
“My job is in international student recruitment at a university, so I am in touch with offshore and onshore Pakistani and Indian students most of the time.
"Once a Pakistani friend of mine had an injury and had to stay at home; I looked after him. That's what it is about".
"When we come to Australia from India or Pakistan, we live by supporting each other here.
"I can’t really comment about what is happening back at home are very disturbing, but here we get along very well.
Ali Awan – Pakistani community member
“I have great friends who are from India. My only thoughts are that given the current situation we must seek patience.
"There is a very small percentage of people who do not want Pakistan and India to work together.
"Instead of conflicts, our focus should be on resolving issues such as health and education."
Andarjeet Singh - Indian community member
"I don’t have any issues with Pakistanis; whatever is happening between the two countries since sixty seventy years is politics.
"I have a friend Khan [from Pakistan in Australia] that I share all my happiness and worries.
"If there is a problem, I tell him and ask, Khan can you help me? "And he is always there to help me."
Ejaz Khan – Pakistani community member
"Both the communities in Australia should play a positive role.
"We have left our countries, be it Pakistan or India, and have made Australia our nation; we are its citizens now."
"The war hysteria that is going there, we must not be a part of it."
Dr Zarrin Siddiqui - Pakistani community member
"We are concerned with what is currently happening there.
"My message to the people living in Australia is to avoid any provocation. We are very saddened to hear anti-Pakistan slogans in Australia.
"We are always happy to work with Indians."
Pakistani Kashmiris walk through the border town of Chakoti at the Line of Control in Pakistani Kashmir, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. Source: AAP
Life of a resident near Pakistan-India border
Although the exchange of fire is a common occurrence that takes place between the armies of the two nations at the border frequently, the recent tensions have seen a sharp increase not seen for years.
A day after Indian jets attacked Pakistan in Balakot, a heavy exchange of fire took place at the borders between two the nuclear powers.
Talking exclusively to SBS Urdu, Ahmed*, a resident who lives within two kilometres of the Pakistan and Indian border shares his helpless situation during that difficult time.
“Suddenly the firing started, and the sound was too loud. We were not aware that such fighting will take place and this quickly.
“A few minutes later, we were told [by Army] to leave our place as we are too close to the border and the situation might even get worse.
“But where do we go from here? We don’t have the means or any money to easily get away from here. No one is supporting or paying us anything to help us."
Ahmed laments that life has become extremely difficult under the constant fear of fighting at the border and its possible fallout, but says he cannot leave this place.
He says only those who have relatives or get enough money to leave are able to move from this dangerous situation.
“We are just waiting to die here as we don’t have the means to leave the border.”
*The name has been changed for privacy.
