In the line of fire

PAKISTAN’s retaliation against Operation Sindoor has left a trail of death and destruction along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. Heavy shelling has claimed the lives of 13 civilians in the Poonch sector, while many houses have been damaged in border villages. Following the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan has been riding roughshod over the ceasefire agreement that was renewed in February 2021. Its military has brazenly targeted civilian areas in recent days, unlike the Indian forces which responsibly confined their strikes to terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

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It is apparent that India’s kinetic action has rattled Pakistan as well as the terror outfits that operate from its territory. Having delivered a powerful message to the neighbour about zero tolerance to terrorism, India must make every effort to ensure the safety of residents in Poonch and other sectors near the LoC. The evacuation and temporary resettlement of displaced families should be a top priority of the UT authorities and security personnel.

The fact that Pakistani troops have not even spared places of worship, including Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Poonch, shows how desperately low they have stooped. The Indian Army claims to have responded proportionately to the shelling; the larger objective should be to deter Pakistan from indulging in unprovoked firing. The nation as a whole must stand in solidarity with the border villagers, who are more vulnerable than ever before to Pakistan’s nefarious activities. Amid the nationwide euphoria over Operation Sindoor, it is vital to safeguard the lives and property of these hapless people who often act as the eyes and ears of the armed forces.