JAMMU, Apr 3: For the ninth consecutive night, Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged small arms fire across multiple locations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, officials reported on Saturday.
Although no casualties were reported, the firing marked another violation of the ceasefire agreement by Pakistani forces. The incidents have been largely confined to the LoC, with only one instance of gunfire recorded along the International Border (IB).
These latest border tensions follow the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists. On the night of May 2–3, Pakistani troops again initiated unprovoked small arms fire near the Kupwara, Uri, and Akhnoor areas of the Union Territory. “The Indian Army responded swiftly and in a measured manner,” said a defense spokesperson.
Concerned about a potential escalation, civilians residing near the LoC and IB have started clearing and preparing their community and private bunkers for possible use.
The cross-border firing began shortly after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty on April 24 in response to the Pahalgam attack. Pakistani troops initially targeted Indian posts in Kupwara and Baramulla districts in north Kashmir, then extended the ceasefire violations to the Poonch and Akhnoor sectors in Jammu. The aggression later spread to Rajouri’s Sunderbani and Naushera areas and finally reached the Pargwal sector along the IB in Jammu district.
These recurring violations have occurred despite recent communication between the military leadership of both nations. During a hotline discussion, India reportedly warned Pakistan against further provocations.
On April 24, Pakistan escalated tensions by closing its airspace to Indian flights, halting trade through the Wagah border, and declaring that any diversion of river waters would be considered an “act of war.” The two countries had reaffirmed their commitment to the 2003 ceasefire agreement in February 2021, but the current hostilities represent a stark departure from the relative peace observed since then.
India shares a 3,323-km border with Pakistan, segmented into the 2,400-km International Border (IB), the 740-km Line of Control (LoC), and the 110-km Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) in the Siachen region.
