Pakistani Troops Violate Ceasefire in J-K; Indian Army Retaliates
On Wednesday, Pakistani forces breached the ceasefire by initiating unprovoked firing on Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army responded decisively, leading to significant casualties on the Pakistani side, as reported by Business Standard.
The incident occurred in the Krishna Ghati sector, a day after two Indian Army personnel, including a captain, were killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) near the LoC in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu district. Such ceasefire violations have been rare since India and Pakistan reaffirmed their ceasefire agreement on February 25, 2021.
According to security officials, Pakistani troops engaged in unprovoked firing on a forward post in the Tarkundi area along the LoC. The Indian Army’s retaliatory action resulted in “heavy casualties” among the opposing forces. An undated video circulating on social media shows a Pakistani army officer paying last respects to fallen soldiers.
In a related incident, a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Indian Army sustained minor injuries after accidentally stepping on a landmine in the same sector. The JCO, a resident of Mendhar, was part of a patrol monitoring the LoC to prevent terrorist infiltration. He was promptly evacuated to a military hospital for treatment.
The LoC has witnessed increased hostilities over the past week, marking the first ceasefire violation this year and the fourth cross-border incident in five days. On Monday, a soldier was injured by cross-border firing while stationed at a forward post in the Kalal area of the Nowshera sector in Rajouri district. Additionally, on February 8, an Army patrol came under terrorist fire from a forested area across the LoC in Rajouri’s Keri sector, where militants appeared to be waiting to infiltrate into India.
Earlier, during the night of February 4 and 5, a landmine explosion reportedly caused casualties among terrorists attempting to infiltrate into the Indian side from across the LoC in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district.
In response to these developments, Lieutenant General Navin Sachdeva, General Officer Commanding of the Jammu-based White Knight Corps, reviewed the “hostile activities” along the LoC in Rajouri district on February 10.
The Indian Army remains vigilant and is closely monitoring the situation along the LoC to prevent further escalations and ensure the security of its positions.
