When headlines turned into horror and breaking news became personal, mansoor khan, a pakistani expat from mirpur in pakistan-administered kashmir, found himself wide awake in dubai — not because of the city lights, but because of the shadows of war back home.
‘I couldn’t sleep I frequently visited news websites and watched videos every few minutes to ensure the safety of my family. Although we reside in a peaceful neighborhood, the constant threat of missiles made us feel vulnerable and unsafe.
The conflict between India and Pakistan had reignited — missiles were launched, airstrikes were conducted. And thousands of kilometers away, mansoor sat on edge, eyes glued to his screen, ears tuned to every ping of a message, praying none of them carried bad news.
Mansoor has been employed at a car rental company in Dubai for the past eight years, but despite his adaptation to life in the UAE, his heart still longs for his homeland.
‘we’ve seen tensions before,’ he said The apprehension is distinct. “It is more profound.”
His story is not uncommon — it resonates with many expats in the Gulf, where a sense of tranquility from afar does not alleviate the anxiety experienced by those left behind.