Pakistani troops on Wednesday violated the ceasefire agreement by launching unprovoked firing on Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting a resolute response from the Indian Army, security officials said.
While the extent of damage inflicted on the Pakistani side was not immediately confirmed, officials stated that the adversary suffered “heavy casualties.” However, the Indian Army neither confirmed nor denied these reports.
The ceasefire violation occurred in the Krishna Ghati sector, a day after two Indian Army personnel, including a captain, were killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast triggered by suspected terrorists near the LoC in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu district.
Officials noted that cross-border firing along the LoC has been an infrequent occurrence since India and Pakistan reaffirmed their ceasefire agreement on 25 February 2021.
However, recent hostilities have raised concerns over security along the border.
According to officials, Pakistani forces initiated the firing on a forward post in the Tarkundi area along the LoC.
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The Indian Army retaliated forcefully, inflicting “heavy casualties” among enemy troops.
A video circulating on social media purportedly shows a Pakistani army officer paying final respects to slain soldiers. The authenticity and details of the footage, however, remain unverified.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident in the same sector, an Indian Army Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) sustained minor injuries after stepping on a landmine during a patrol. The officer, a resident of Mendhar, was part of a reconnaissance team monitoring the LoC to prevent infiltration attempts, officials said. He was subsequently evacuated to a military hospital for treatment.
Tensions have escalated along the LoC amid a surge in hostile cross-border activity over the past week, officials reported.
This latest ceasefire violation marks the first such breach this year and the fourth cross-border incident within five days.
On 10 February, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Jammu-based White Knight Corps, Lieutenant General Navin Sachdeva, reviewed the prevailing security scenario along the LoC in Rajouri district.
“GOC White Knight Corps, along with GOC Ace of Spades and GOC Crossed Swords divisions, visited forward areas of the Rajouri sector for an operational update on the prevailing security situation and the hostile activities,” the Indian Army stated in a post on X.
The statement further noted that the corps commander commended the troops for their vigilance and operational commitment while urging them to remain prepared for all contingencies.
Monday saw a soldier wounded after being struck by a bullet fired from across the border while manning a forward post in the Kalal area of the Nowshera sector in Rajouri district.
On 8 February, an Army patrol was fired upon by terrorists from a forested area across the LoC in Rajouri’s Keri sector. Reports indicate that the assailants were likely awaiting an opportunity to infiltrate Indian territory.
Earlier, during the intervening night of 4 and 5 February, a landmine explosion reportedly resulted in casualties among infiltrating terrorists attempting to breach the LoC in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district.
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