Geo-strategic location of Poonch makes it vulnerable to Pak attacks

With its strategic location bordering Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and acting as a buffer between the Kashmir and Jammu regions of the Union Territory (UT), Poonch—home to a mixed population—has long remained a target for Pakistan.

The scenic mountains of Poonch, which border several parts of the Kashmir region, are cloaked in thick forests. These wooded areas have become safe havens for Pakistan-based terrorists infiltrating through the LoC. The district has seen several deadly ambushes on security forces over the past two years by terrorists using hit-and-run tactics and retreating into the dense jungle terrain.

According to experts, the intense shelling by Pakistan on Wednesday in several parts of Poonch was intended to instil fear among different communities following India’s strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK. While Poonch has previously witnessed heavy cross-border firing during ceasefire violations, direct shelling of areas within Poonch city remains rare.

The district is home to a significant population of Sikhs and Hindus, alongside Muslims, making its demographic makeup unique in the region.

Following the Indian Air Force’s surgical strikes in 2019, Pakistani fighter jets had entered the Poonch region and engaged in a dogfight with Indian jets.

Captain Anil Gaur (retd), a Jammu-based defence analyst, said Poonch’s geography and location make it an easy target.

“As Pakistan will not shell areas close to the LoC in the Kashmir region due to political factors, Poonch provides an area with a mixed population where pro-India sentiment is dominant,” he said.

He noted that the shelling may aim to trigger evacuations, clearing space for easier infiltration by Pakistani terrorists.