Jammu and Kashmir: Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated further as the Pakistan Army violated the ceasefire for the 14th consecutive day, marking yet another Pakistan ceasefire violation along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. The intense cross-border artillery and mortar shelling targeted multiple sectors, resulting in the tragic loss of 13 lives, including four children and one Indian Army soldier, with over 57 civilians injured.
The heavy shelling affected areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, and Akhnoor, continuing a pattern of daily violations since April 24. The Indian Army confirmed that it responded “proportionately” to the provocation in a controlled and strategic manner.
“During the night of May 7-8, Pakistani Army posts resorted to unprovoked fire using small arms and artillery guns,” an official Indian Army statement said. “Our forces retaliated in a targeted manner to protect civilian life and infrastructure.”
This fresh round of cross-border firing comes just 24 hours after India launched Operation Sindoor, a high-precision military offensive targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Operation Sindoor: India’s Strategic Strike
India’s Operation Sindoor commenced at 1:05 AM on May 7 and lasted 25 minutes, involving 24 precision-guided missile strikes on nine terrorist camps operated by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). These strikes reportedly killed 70 terrorists and injured 60, dismantling crucial terror logistics and communication networks in response to ongoing Pakistan ceasefire violation.
The strike was a direct retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, where 26 civilians, including one Nepali national, were killed in the tourist-populated Baisaran Valley, also known as “Mini Switzerland.” The attack marked the deadliest terror strike in the region since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, further intensifying the fallout from the Pakistan ceasefire violation.
“India’s actions were focused, measured, and non-escalatory in nature,” the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. “No Pakistani military facilities were targeted.”
Pakistan’s Escalation Post-Operation Sindoor
In retaliation to India’s counterterror operations, the ongoing Pakistan ceasefire violation escalated as Pakistani forces intensified shelling across the LoC, targeting civilian areas in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in Poonch, Rajouri, and Kupwara. Several homes caught fire in the Karnah sector, and dozens of vehicles were damaged. Schools and colleges across affected districts of Jammu and Kashmir, including Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, and Poonch, were ordered to remain closed for safety.
The fallen soldier has been identified as Dinesh Kumar Sharma, a braveheart from Haryana. Expressing grief and pride, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini said, “Every citizen of the country is proud of your martyrdom. We salute your sacrifice.”
Indus Waters Treaty Suspension & Rising Hostilities
Following the Pahalgam massacre, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, citing Pakistan’s support for terrorism. Security experts believe that Pakistan’s continuous ceasefire violations are a reaction to both the treaty suspension and India’s military offensive.
Since April 24, Pakistani troops have targeted multiple Indian civilian areas along the LoC each night, marking the longest stretch of daily ceasefire violations in recent history.
Civilians Pay the Price Amid Military Tensions
In the latest shelling, Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district recorded the highest casualties. Ten children were injured, and many homes were damaged. In Rajouri, three civilians were seriously hurt. Rescue operations were underway even as intermittent firing continued.
Indian defense officials reiterated that they are committed to safeguarding civilians and maintaining territorial integrity in Jammu and Kashmir, stating, “India reserves the right to respond to acts of terror and ceasefire violations with appropriate force.”
Conclusion
With 14 days of back-to-back ceasefire violations and continued civilian suffering, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir along the India-Pakistan border remains volatile. While India’s Operation Sindoor was a controlled counterterrorism operation, Pakistan’s indiscriminate shelling of civilian zones in Jammu and Kashmir underscores a concerning escalation.
The international community is closely monitoring the situation, even as the Indian Army continues to exercise maximum restraint in dealing with repeated provocations.
