Pakistani troops engaged in unprovoked small arms fire across multiple sectors along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir during the night of May 3rd and 4th, prompting a proportionate response from the Indian Army, officials reported on Sunday.
These ceasefire violations occurred in eight locations spanning five districts within the Union Territory: Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri, Mendhar, Naushera, Sunderbani, and Akhnoor. While the firing persisted for the tenth consecutive night, no casualties were reported.
A defence spokesperson stated, “During the night of May 3 and 4, Pakistan Army posts resorted to unprovoked small arms fire across the LoC in areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri, Mendhar, Naushera, Sunderbani, and Akhnoor in J-K. Indian Army responded promptly and proportionately.”
Ceasefire violations along the LoC and International Border (IB) had become infrequent following the renewed ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan on February 25, 2021.
In response to the escalating tensions, concerned border residents have begun cleaning their community and individual bunkers as a precautionary measure.
The recent spate of unprovoked firing incidents began on the night of April 24th, shortly after India reportedly suspended the Indus Waters Treaty in the aftermath of the April 22nd terror attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people, primarily tourists.
Initially, the unprovoked small arms fire was concentrated in the Kupwara and Baramulla districts of north Kashmir. However, Pakistan quickly extended these violations to the Poonch sector and subsequently to the Akhnoor sector in the Jammu region.
Following this, small arms fire was reported at several posts along the LoC in the Sunderbani and Naushera sectors of the Rajouri district. The firing then spread to Mendhar in the Poonch district and the international border in the Pargwal sector of the Jammu district.
These renewed ceasefire violations have occurred despite a recent hotline conversation between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan, during which the Indian side reportedly issued a caution to Pakistan.
Furthermore, on April 24th, Pakistan took several actions, including closing its airspace to Indian airlines, shutting down the Wagah border crossing, suspending all trade with India, and issuing a warning that any attempt to divert water would be considered an “Act of War.”
