RESIDENT SENTIMENTS AND LIVED EXPERIENCES IN RELATION TO PLACE ATTACHMENT WITH BATTEL SECTOR

Abstract

Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan has plagued people for decades. The two regions controlled by India and Pakistan were split into a contested line, the Line of Control (LOC). The Kashmiri people face various threats on both sides, and their lives are threatened. However, residents are attached to their place and are reluctant to settle in other peaceful areas. The current study aimed to explore the perceptions regarding the place attachment of the residents living near LoC by asking the following question: what are Sentiments of individuals and their lived experiences with reference to their affinity to the Battel sector? The ethnographic research methodology was used to carry out the current research which includes participant observation and in-depth interviews. The sample of the study was selected from diverse socio-economic and educational backgrounds. A purposive sampling technique was employed and a total of fifteen participants were selected. The findings of the research suggest that there are multiple factors involved which binds residents with their place involving, place identity, social connections, the economic dimension, love for the place, and ancestral affiliations. Keywords: Azad Kashmir, conflict, hostile terrain, place attachment, sentiments