Sajid Raina
Srinagar, May 6: Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Army and Border Security Force (BSF) are on high alert along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) across Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
Pertinently, the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 civilians, mostly tourists dead, and its cross border linkages have led to the heightened tensions between the two nations. India has downgraded the diplomatic ties with Pakistan, has suspended trade, closed border gates and deported all Pakistan nationals from India.
An official said that along with the nationwide civil defence mock drills to be held on Wednesday, the Army and BSF will remain on high alert along the LoC and the International Border. “Armed forces have been directed to maintain tight vigil and not to lower the guard,” the official added.
Pak Army violates ceasefire for 12th night
Pakistan Army once again violated the ceasefire agreement along the Line of Control (LoC), continuing their pattern of unprovoked firing in several areas.
The latest incident occurred on the night of May 5-6, when Pakistani troops opened fire using small arms across the LoC in multiple sectors, including Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri, Mendhar, Naushera, Sunderbani, and Akhnoor.
This marks the 12th consecutive night of ceasefire violations by Pakistan, further aggravating the already fraught situation between the two neighboring countries.
In response to the provocations, the Indian Army carried out a strong and calibrated retaliation, adhering to standard operating procedures to maintain security and safeguard personnel and infrastructure in the region.
These repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement, which was established in February 2021, have significantly undermined the credibility and effectiveness of the agreement.
Truce violations instill fear
The relentless violations following the April 22, Pahalgam terror attack, have instilled widespread fear and panic among the people living in the frontier areas. “For 12 consecutive nights, 53 incidents of small-arms fire and mortar shelling have been reported in villages across Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri, and Akhnoor,” an official said .
Residents, rattled by the constant sound of gunfire, are fleeing to safer areas or fortifying their homes and bunkers. “We live in constant fear. Every night, we hear the sound of shells landing near our homes,” said Farooq Ahmad, a resident of Uri.
“I don’t know how long we can stay like this. Our children are scared to even sleep,” added Shabir Ahmad from Poonch.
The escalating violence, coupled with the severed India-Pakistan diplomatic ties, have heightened anxieties about a potential military escalation. “We’re caught in the middle. No one seems to care about the people who are suffering here,” said Rukhsana Begum, a resident of Rajouri.
