Omar Abdullah, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, announced on Monday that individuals who had evacuated their homes near the Line of Control due to rising tensions between India and Pakistan should consider returning, as hostilities have ceased.

Many residents from districts adjacent to the Line of Control had relocated to safer locations amidst intense Pakistani shelling. This escalation began on May 7, following Indian military operations, known as Operation Sindoor, targeting what were described as terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

In response, the Pakistani military engaged in sustained shelling of Indian territories along the Line of Control.

On Saturday, both nations reached a consensus to halt the gunfire.

Following this ceasefire, Abdullah encouraged residents to return to their homes, noting that a significant portion of Poonch town remains unoccupied. He stated, “Eighty to 90% of Poonch town is vacant,” emphasizing that people had left during the shelling but can now safely return.

The Chief Minister remarked that the atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir had been tense over the past week, with Poonch being particularly hard-hit by the cross-border shelling.

Local police and district officials reported that 21 civilians, including five children, lost their lives in the recent conflict, which spanned four days. Additionally, five members of the Indian armed forces were killed during this period.

The majority of casualties occurred in the Jammu region, with Poonch district suffering the most, where heavy artillery fire from the Pakistani military resulted in 15 fatalities.

The military actions on May 7 were a direct response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives on April 22.