Pahalgam terror attack: Pakistan Army now violates ceasefire along international borders in J&K

The Pakistan Army violated ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir for the sixth consecutive day on Wednesday. The Indian Army said it responded swiftly to the “unprovoked small-arms fire” initiated by Pakistan.

Defence sources told news agency ANI that the Pakistan Army “have now escalated the situation by violating ceasefire along the international borders.”

“During the night of 29-30 April, Pakistan Army posts initiated unprovoked small-arms fire across the Line of Control opposite the Naushera, Sunderbani and Akhnoor sectors in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir,” the Indian Army said on Wednesday.

The Indian Army said “unprovoked small arms firing by the Pakistan Army” was also reported from their posts across the Line of Control (LoC) in Baramulla and Kupwara districts, as well as across the International Border in the Paragwal Sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

“The Pakistan Army was violating ceasefire only along the Line of Control but they have now escalated the situation by violating ceasefire along the international borders by firing along the International Border last night in the Paragwal sector in Jammu,” said defence sources.

“Indian Army troops responded swiftly and proportionately,” the statement added.

A similar "unprovoked small firing was carried out by various Pakistan Army posts" on the night of April 24-25, April 25-26, April 26-27, April 27-28 and April 28-29.

These firings were reported just a day after at least 26 people were killed in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The terrorist attack in Pahalgam took place on April 22.

The Pahalgam attack is reportedly the worst attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai shootings, in which more than 160 people were killed.

A little-known militant group, The Resistance Front, claimed responsibility for the attack in a social media message, news agency ANI reported.

Following the attack, India took punitive actions against Pakistan, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and shutting down of Attari Check Post among other measures.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed that the terrorists and conspirators behind the attack would be punished beyond their imagination. 

“Today, on the soil of Bihar, I say to the whole world, India will identify, trace and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth. India's spirit will never be broken by terrorism,” he had said earlier.