Jammu: Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Wednesday, sparking a fierce response from the Indian Army, security officials reported.
The unprovoked firing by Pakistani forces targeted Indian posts in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch, leading to a strong retaliation by the Indian Army. While the exact damage on the Pakistan side remains unclear, officials confirmed that Pakistani troops suffered “heavy casualties” in the exchange. The Indian Army did not officially confirm or deny the casualty details.
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Casualties from recent explosions, firing
The ceasefire violation occurred just one day after two Indian Army personnel, including a captain, were killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion near the LoC in Jammu's Akhnoor sector. This is the first ceasefire violation this year and the fourth cross-border incident in the past five days.
This incident marks a rare ceasefire breach, as both India and Pakistan renewed their ceasefire agreement in February 2021, which had previously kept violations to a minimum. Pakistani forces initiated unprovoked firing at a forward post in the Tarkundi area along the LoC, resulting in heavy casualties on the enemy side, the officials stated.
An undated video circulating on social media showed a Pakistani army officer paying tribute to the soldiers who were killed in the skirmish.
Meanwhile, a junior commissioned officer (JCO) of the Indian Army sustained minor injuries after accidentally stepping on a landmine in the same sector. The JCO, hailing from Mendhar, was part of a patrol team monitoring the LoC to prevent terrorist infiltration. He was evacuated to a military hospital for treatment.
Rising tensions along LoC
The security situation along the LoC remains tense, as hostilities have increased in recent days. This particular ceasefire breach adds to the growing list of incidents, including a bullet wound sustained by a soldier in the Kalal area of Rajouri district on Monday, and a terrorist attack on an Army patrol in the Keri sector on February 8.
The Indian Army had earlier reported an explosion from a landmine on the night of February 4-5, which likely caused casualties to terrorists attempting to infiltrate into India from the Krishna Ghati sector.
On February 10, Lieutenant General Navin Sachdeva, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the White Knight Corps, reviewed the growing hostile activities along the LoC in Rajouri. During his visit to forward areas, he commended the Army personnel for their vigilance and operational focus, urging them to remain prepared for any potential escalation.
Agency
Published: 13 Feb 2025, 06:42 am IST
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