Jammu: After six consecutive days of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC), Pakistani troops on Wednesday opened unprovoked fire on the International Border (IB) in Jammu district, escalating tensions further between the two countries.
A spokesperson from the Defence Ministry confirmed that unprovoked small arms firing by the Pakistan Army was reported overnight from positions across the LoC in Baramulla and Kupwara districts, as well as from across the International Border in the Pargwal Sector. “Indian Army troops responded appropriately,” the spokesperson said.
Earlier, during the night of April 29–30, Pakistani posts initiated unprovoked small arms fire across the LoC in Naushera, Sunderbani, and Akhnoor sectors of Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army responded swiftly and proportionately to these provocations.
Similar violations occurred on April 28–29 in areas opposite Kupwara and Baramulla districts and in the Akhnoor sector. Officials confirmed that Indian forces responded to each instance in a measured and effective manner.
These repeated ceasefire violations follow a brutal terror attack on April 22, when Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists killed 26 civilians, including 25 tourists and one local, in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam. The attack provoked widespread outrage across the nation.
In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to track down the terrorists, their handlers, and supporters, declaring they would be pursued “to the ends of the earth.” He also gave the armed forces full operational freedom to decide on the response's timing, mode, and targets.
This directive was issued after a high-level security meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff, and the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha recently held a security review meeting with Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi in Srinagar. During the discussion, Sinha directed the Army to use all necessary force to eliminate those responsible for the Pahalgam attack.
As part of a broader crackdown on terrorism, security forces have intensified operations across the Valley. They have demolished the homes of 10 active terrorists to send a strong message to militants, their overground workers (OGWs), and sympathisers.
On Monday, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly unanimously condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and passed a resolution expressing solidarity with the victims.
With IANS inputs