Pakistan violates truce at LoC, Army retaliates

Amid heightened tensions over the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan on Friday morning violated ceasefire at multiple locations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, prompting an “effective” response from the Army.

Sources said Pakistan used small arms to target Indian posts. As per initial information, ceasefire violations took place at many locations in the north Kashmir region. Pakistan initiated firing in north Kashmir’s Nowgam sector of Kupwara district, which was retaliated to by the Indian soldiers.

A senior Army official at Udhampur-based Northern Command said: “There were incidents of small arms fire by Pakistan at some places on the LoC. The violations were effectively responded to.”

The exchange of fire continued in the area for an hour, the sources said. This is the first ceasefire violation along the LoC in the recent past.

Pakistan is learnt to have deployed tanks and armoured vehicles, and increased soldiers’ presence along the International Border (IB) opposite Kathua, Samba and Jammu districts.

Heavy movement of vehicles and soldiers has been observed by the Border Security Force (BSF). The Army and BSF have deployed anti-drone systems along the border on the Indian side.