The fragile calm along the Line of Control (LoC) has once again been shattered. For the sixth consecutive day, the Pakistan Army has violated the 2021 ceasefire agreement, initiating unprovoked small-arms firing in Jammu and Kashmir. Coming in the wake of the tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam, this renewed aggression signals a disturbing escalation in cross-border hostilities. The immediate casualties of this belligerence are going to be the civilians living along the LoC, who now find themselves once again gripped by fear, uncertainty, and the grim echoes of gunfire which will take a psychological and physical toll on these residents. If the violence spirals, schools will be shut, daily routines disrupted, and families will spend nights in underground bunkers or hastily evacuated shelters. For farmers, who rely on cross-border stretches for cultivation, life will come to a standstill. Livelihoods will be choked even as security risks mount. This imminent return to an atmosphere reminiscent of pre-ceasefire days will erode the modest sense of stability that had slowly begun to take root in border communities. The government must view this as more than just a military provocation. It is a humanitarian crisis in the making. The Centre, along with the Jammu and Kashmir administration, must respond with a multi-pronged strategy that ensures both immediate safety and long-term resilience of border residents. First and foremost, enhanced civilian protection measures are essential. This includes strengthening of bunkers, swift relocation plans for the vulnerable, and robust emergency medical support systems. Secondly, intelligence and surveillance need to be intensified. The recurrence of ceasefire violations following the Pahalgam attack raises concerns about coordination between state-sponsored terrorists and the Pakistan Army. Proactive intelligence gathering along infiltration-prone zones, coupled with advanced drone and satellite surveillance, must be scaled up to preempt such coordinated actions. Diplomatically, India must raise the issue at international forums, reinforcing the pattern of ceasefire breaches and terrorist linkages. While strategic restraint is prudent, it should not be confused with silence. A clear message must be conveyed: violations will not go unanswered, either militarily or diplomatically. Ultimately, the most pressing need is to re-establish a sense of security for those who live closest to the border. For decades, we have been collateral to politics and proxy wars. Our safety, dignity, and right to peace must now be placed at the centre of our national security discourse. Our country need to respond with strong, sensitive, and sustained tactics to prevent Pahalgam like attacks in future.