Hours after India hit nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, targeting terrorist infrastructure there, Pakistani troops resorted to a sharp escalation in ceasefire violations along the Line of Control in Rajouri and Poonch districts in Jammu and Kashmir.
While small arms fire had been witnessed regularly in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, Wednesday night saw heavy artillery fire from the Pakistan side.
“Pakistan again violates the ceasefire agreement by firing artillery in Bhimber Gali in Poonch-Rajauri area,” the Army posted on X, adding that the Indian side is responding appropriately in a calibrated manner.
A local woman is learnt to have been killed in Pakistani firing in the Mankote area of Mendhar, though an official confirmation is awaited.
Locals said that cross-border shelling was underway in Krishna Ghati, Shahpur and Mankote in Poonch, and Laam, Manjakote and Gambeer Brahmana in Rajouri district.
Intense artillery shelling was also reported from Uri and Tangdhar sectors in the Kashmir Valley.
Pakistani troops had been resorting to unprovoked ceasefire violations targeting the Indian side with small arms in two-three sectors for nearly a fortnight. But of late, the attacks had spread to the entire LoC in J&K.
Story continues below this ad
Hours before things came to a boil on the LoC, India hit nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, targeting terrorist infrastructure there.
A defence ministry statement said on Wednesday, “A little while ago, the Indian armed forces launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed.”
“Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution,” it said.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
