Pakistani Troops Violate Ceasefire, Open Fire in Eight Sectors Along LoC in J&K
JAMMU, May 5: Pakistani forces engaged in unprovoked firing across eight forward sectors along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, breaching the ceasefire agreement and drawing a swift response from Indian troops, according to officials on Monday.
This marks the 11th straight night of such ceasefire violations, occurring amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives.
“On the night of May 4–5, Pakistani posts opened unprovoked small arms fire across the LoC in areas facing Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri, Mendhar, Naushera, Sunderbani, and Akhnoor,” said a defence spokesperson in Jammu. “The Indian Army responded in a measured and timely manner.”
The cross-border firing originated in the northern districts of Kupwara and Baramulla and soon extended to Poonch, Akhnoor, and further into Sunderbani and Naushera sectors in Rajouri district. The exchange later reached the Pargwal sector along the International Border in Jammu district.
This escalation occurred despite a recent communication between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both nations on April 29, during which India reportedly warned Pakistan about its repeated ceasefire breaches.
The latest violations began shortly after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty in the wake of the April 22 attack. Since April 24, Pakistani troops have consistently targeted Indian positions along the LoC, beginning in the Kashmir Valley.
Pakistan, in response to India’s move, had shut down its airspace to Indian carriers, sealed the Wagah border, and halted bilateral trade — warning that any attempts by India to alter water flows under the Indus Waters Treaty would be viewed as an “act of war.”
These repeated violations have effectively nullified the February 2021 ceasefire understanding, which had aimed to uphold peace along the 740-kilometer LoC. India and Pakistan had then reaffirmed their commitment to the original 2003 agreement during high-level military talks.
India shares a 3,323 km-long border with Pakistan, which includes the 2,400 km International Border, the 740 km Line of Control, and the 110 km Actual Ground Position Line in the Siachen region.
