The women in Kashmir longing for their loved-ones’ return

Anantnag, Indian-administered Kashmir – Women in Kashmir have suffered immensely as the conflict in the region continues.

Many have lost their husbands, sons or fathers while. There are also around 1,500 ‘half-widows‘ who remain unaware of their husbands’ whereabouts.

“I have lost my three rebel sons. One of them took food for the rebels. He was there when an encounter took place and he was killed,” Nabza Bano, an 83-year-old who lives in small house in the Somdbraide village of South Kashmir, told Al Jazeera.

Bano vaguely remembers the time of death of her sons. She said her life became more miserable after her husband’s death three years ago due to kidney problems.

Kashmir remains a pending dispute between two nuclear nations, India and Pakistan. Both countries have fought two wars over the region and more than 70,000 people have lost their life in past three decades.

Khurshi, 85, mother of Manzoor Ahmed, mostly remains silent inside her half-dark room.

She is unaware of her son’s death who was in the Indian Army and was killed in Sunjuwan attack in the Jammu region in early 2018.

“She keeps asking about him and doesn’t know he is no more,” said Ahmed’s sister. “She keeps waiting for her son’s phone call.”

Arif Magribi Khan, a psychiatrist who also runs an NGO for patients with physiological problems in Srinagar, said they have “witnessed higher patient inflow after the 2016 unrest”.

“The basic cause is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). When a woman loses her family member, the (PTSD) remains unattended for months which leads to more serious problem and becomes an uphill task to overcome,” said Khan.