In a devastating act of cross-border aggression, the Pakistan Army launched an unprovoked ceasefire violation along the Line of Control (LoC), killing seven civilians and injuring at least 38 others in the Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir. The firing, which began without warning, involved the use of heavy mortars and artillery shells that landed deep within civilian areas, targeting homes, schools, and basic infrastructure.

According to local authorities, the barrage began early in the morning and continued intermittently for several hours. Many residents were caught in the open or inside their homes, which were not built to withstand such heavy bombardment. One local official described the scene as “sheer chaos,” noting that families had to seek cover in drainage ditches or behind livestock shelters.

Ambulances struggled to reach the affected areas due to ongoing shelling and damaged roads. Army medical teams and disaster response forces were deployed to evacuate the wounded and assist in rescue operations. Among the injured were women and children, with several reported to be in critical condition at local hospitals.

The Indian Army responded strongly to the provocation, targeting Pakistani military posts believed to be responsible for the attack. Indian defense spokespersons described the retaliation as “measured and precise,” aimed at neutralizing the source of the fire.

New Delhi condemned the attack in the strongest possible terms, accusing Islamabad of violating the 2021 ceasefire agreement and international humanitarian law by targeting civilian zones. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs called on the international community to take note of Pakistan’s repeated use of violence in populated areas.

This latest violation has reignited fears of a wider conflict along the volatile LoC, a region that has seen multiple flare-ups over the past decade despite bilateral attempts at maintaining peace. Security analysts warn that continued provocation could destabilize an already fragile situation, especially with the upcoming summer pilgrimage season in Kashmir, which traditionally brings a spike in both tourism and security risks.

Villages near the LoC remain on high alert, with many residents relocating to temporary shelters set up by the government. Relief efforts are underway, but the emotional trauma and property damage have left deep scars. As night falls, the people of the region brace for the possibility of more violence—caught, once again, in the crossfire of a decades-long conflict.