JAMMU: Pakistani forces on Wednesday breached the ceasefire by initiating unprovoked gunfire on Indian military positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmirโs Poonch district, prompting a firm counteraction by the Indian Army, security sources revealed.
While the extent of losses on the Pakistani side remained unclear, officials stated that enemy troops suffered โsubstantial casualties.โ
However, the Indian Army refrained from confirming or denying these claims.
The ceasefire breach in the Krishna Ghati sector occurred just a day after two Indian Army personnel, including a captain, lost their lives in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast suspected to have been orchestrated by terrorists near the LoC in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu district.
Such violations along the LoC have been infrequent since India and Pakistan reaffirmed their ceasefire agreement on February 25, 2021.
According to officials, Pakistani forces opened fire on an Indian forward post in the Tarkundi region, triggering a strong retaliation that reportedly led to โheavy casualtiesโ among the adversaryโs ranks.
A video circulating on social media, though undated, shows a Pakistani military officer offering final respects to fallen soldiers.
Meanwhile, a junior commissioned officer (JCO) of the Indian Army sustained minor injuries after inadvertently stepping on a landmine in the same region on Wednesday evening.
The injured officer, a native of Mendhar, was part of a patrol unit monitoring the LoC to thwart infiltration attempts.
He was promptly evacuated to a military hospital, officials confirmed.
The LoC remains on high alert due to a recent surge in cross-border hostilities over the past week, sources said.
This marks the first ceasefire violation of the year and the fourth cross-border incident within five days. On Monday, an Indian soldier sustained a gunshot wound from across the border while stationed at a forward post in the Kalal area of the Nowshera sector, Rajouri district.
Additionally, on February 8, an Army patrol unit was ambushed by terrorists in the Keri forest region of Rajouri near the LoC.
Intelligence reports suggest that terrorists had been lying in wait, seeking an opportunity to infiltrate Indian territory.
On the intervening night of February 4 and 5, an explosionโpresumably from a landmineโcaused casualties among terrorists attempting to cross the LoC into the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch.
On February 10, Lieutenant General Navin Sachdeva, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the White Knight Corps, reviewed the recent surge in โhostile activitiesโ along the LoC in Rajouri.
โGOC White Knight Corps, along with GOC Ace of Spades and GOC Crossed Swords divisions, visited forward posts in the Rajouri sector for an operational briefing on the prevailing security situation and emerging threats,โ the Army stated in a post on X.
The statement, shared by the White Knight Corps through its official social media platforms, noted that the corps commander commended troops for their unwavering vigilance and operational readiness.
He further urged them to remain prepared for any contingencies, reinforcing the Armyโs commitment to safeguarding the border.
