Familiarity with lockdowns helps Kashmir but pandemic causing distress

Kashmir's familiarity with lockdowns is helping it to cope with the unprecedented global health crisis better but it is causing the valley greater distress than the ones in the past.

There is no simmering anger and feeling of suppression normally associated with lockdowns of the past.

The only thing that they are worried about at the moment is the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It is definitely different from the previous turmoil that have taken place during the last decade," said Muhammad Hammad, who is associated with one of the valley's biggest and most loved sporting entities.

Hammad, who plays as a defender at Real Kashmir FC, says the frustration remains the same, though.

"It is frustrating as usual as we have witnessed a lockdown just months back," he told PTI, referring to the clampdown following the revocation of Article 370.

"But again, 'do we have a choice'? Absolutely no. The entire world does not have a choice. Everyone has to deal with patience. It is a global issue so the awareness is global, too."