Pakistan Escalates LoC Hostilities Post 'Operation Sindoor': Rajouri, Poonch, Kashmir Valley under Fire

Pakistan Escalates LoC Violations with Heavy Artillery Following 'Operation Sindoor'

Hours after India announced its "Operation Sindoor" targeting alleged terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Wednesday, May 7th, Pakistani troops significantly escalated ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. The renewed hostilities involved the use of heavy artillery fire, marking a sharp increase from the small arms fire witnessed in recent weeks.

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Escalation Details and Affected Areas

Reports indicate that Pakistani forces initiated heavy artillery shelling late Wednesday night across multiple sectors in the Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu. The Indian Army confirmed that Pakistan violated the ceasefire agreement by firing artillery in the Bhimber Gali sector, among others. Locals also reported intense cross-border shelling in areas including Krishna Ghati, Shahpur, and Mankote in Poonch, as well as Laam, Manjakote, and Gambeer Brahmana in Rajouri. Additionally, intense artillery fire was reported from the Uri and Tangdhar sectors in the Kashmir Valley. Tragically, there are unconfirmed reports of a local woman being killed in Pakistani firing in the Mankote area of Mendhar, Poonch, though official confirmation is awaited.

Also Read: 'Operation Sindoor', Pakistan Defence Minister States Willingness to 'End Conflict' if India Reciprocates

Indian Response and Context

The Indian Army stated on X (formerly Twitter) that its forces are "responding appropriately in a calibrated manner" to the Pakistani provocations. This escalation follows nearly a fortnight of regular, though less intense, unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops using small arms, which had recently spread across the entire LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. India's "Operation Sindoor" earlier on Wednesday targeted nine sites, with the Ministry of Defence asserting that the actions were "focused, measured, and non-escalatory," aimed solely at terrorist infrastructure and avoiding Pakistani military facilities.

Also Read: 'Operation Sindoor': India’s Retaliatory Strikes conveyed Grief and Valour after Pahalagam Terror attack

The shift from small arms fire to heavy artillery shelling by Pakistani forces along the LoC signifies a serious heightening of tensions in the immediate aftermath of India's "Operation Sindoor." With both sides engaging, the situation remains volatile, raising concerns about further escalation and the impact on civilian populations residing near the Line of Control.