Pakistan Fires Artillery In Poonch-Rajauri As Tensions Escalate Following Indian Strikes

New Delhi: In an apparent response to Operation Sindoor, Pakistan has violated the ceasefire agreement by firing artillery in Bhimber Gali in the Poonch-Rajauri area, according to Indian Army reports. Military officials stated that they are "responding appropriately in a calibrated manner" to this provocation. The exchange follows India's precision strikes on nine terrorist infrastructure sites across Pakistan and PoK. While India has characterised Operation Sindoor as "focused, measured and non-escalatory," Pakistan's ISPR Director General described the Indian action as a "cowardly attack" targeting Kotli, Bahwalpur, and Muzaffarabad. 

Tensions continued to escalate between the nuclear-armed neighbours following the Pahalgam attack. The fragile peace between India and Pakistan has been severely tested once again as tensions grew along the Line of Control (LoC) after the brutal Pahalgam terror attack. Meanwhile, Pakistan violated the ceasefire agreement by firing artillery in Bhimber Gali in the Poonch-Rajauri area, prompting a calibrated response from the Indian Army. The shelling on the border came up in the wake of India's precision strikes on nine terrorist infrastructure sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, dubbed 'Operation Sindoor'.

Barbaric Pahalgam Terror Attack Claimed 26 Lives

The roots of the current escalation in tension can be traced back to the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly civilians, at a popular tourist hotspot. The Resistance Front, an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack. However, later the outfit took a U-turn and denied having involvement in the brutal attack. 

India, however, has maintained that it has proof of Pakistan's deep state planning the attack, sharing material with diplomats from the United States, Russia, China, and major European nations last month. In response to the attack, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist training camps run by Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The Indian military operation, described as "focused, measured and non-escalatory" by the Defence Ministry, aimed to strike at the heart of terrorist infrastructure in the region. Meanwhile, the situation has spiralled out of control, with both nations engaging in intense cross-border shelling and firing.

3 Civilians Killed In Pakistani Shelling

The Pakistani army's unprovoked firing across the LoC and International Border has resulted in the deaths of at least three civilians in Jammu and Kashmir. Lt Colonel Suneel Baratwal, PRO (Defence), Northern Command, confirmed that the Indian Army responded in a proportionate manner. "During the night of 06-07 May 2025, Pakistan Army resorted to arbitrary firing including Artillery shelling from posts across the Line of Control and IB opposite J&K," he said, adding that three innocent civilians lost their lives in indiscriminate firing/shelling. The Indian Army are responding in proportionate manner.

According to reports, heavy shelling has been reported in multiple sectors along the border, with local reports indicating cross-border fire in Krishna Ghati, Shahpur, and Mankote in Poonch district, as well as Laam, Manjakote, and Gambeer Brahmana in Rajouri. Intense artillery fire has also been heard in the Uri and Tangdhar sectors of the Kashmir Valley. A woman was reportedly killed in Mankote, although officials have yet to confirm her death.

The escalating conflict has disrupted civilian life across the region, with district administrations ordering the closure of schools and colleges in five border districts, Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, and Poonch, citing security concerns. The airports in cities close to the Indo-Pak border, including Jammu, Srinagar, and Leh, have suspended operations. Air India has cancelled flights to and from several northern cities until at least noon on Wednesday, while other carriers have issued travel advisories and reported flight diversions.

Further details are awaited.