Jammu, Oct 31 (IANS): Health minister and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Thursday assured border residents in Samba, Jammu and Kathua districts of all possible assistance to help live a normal life.

Azad, accompanied by state deputy chief minister Tara Chand and state Congress president Saifuddin Soz, visited villages in the Ramgarh and R.S. Pura sectors of the international border where Pakistani troops have repeatedly violated the ceasefire over the past two months.

Azad said, "Whenever there is tension on the border, the residents of border villages have to pay a price. There has been no escalation of tension on the border from our side.

"Pakistani troops have been resorting to unprovoked firing which has caused a lot of hardship to the people living in areas close to the border.

"We have come to express solidarity with you and assure all possible help. Whether it is hospitals, schools or recruitment of youths from these areas in army and paramilitary forces, we shall do everything possible to help.

"But, the most important thing in such a situation is safety of the lives of the people."