Pak violates truce for 3rd consecutive day

The Pakistan army for the third consecutive day resorted to “small arms” fire along the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir, Army officials said on Sunday.

According to the officials, Pakistan army posts initiated “unprovoked small arms fire” across the LoC in areas opposite Tutmari Gali and Rampur sectors on the night of April 26. Both areas fall in Baramulla and Kupwara districts.

“Our troops responded effectively with appropriate small arms fire,” the Army said.

The fresh ceasefire violation by Pakistan comes amid heightened tensions following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 25 tourists and a local dead.

In the wake of the attack and subsequent ceasefire violations by Pakistan, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi visited the Valley on Friday.

The rising tensions have triggered panic among residents of border towns. Locals at some places say they have cleaned up community bunkers as a precautionary measure, fearing the situation may escalate further. Since the ceasefire pact in 2021, border towns had witnessed a period of relative calm.