The situation along the India-Pakistan Line of Control (LoC) has escalated into a full-blown military standoff, marked by intense cross-border violence, civilian casualties, and targeted military strikes. Over the last 14 days, Pakistan has resorted to continuous ceasefire violations, escalating to heavy mortar and artillery shelling on forward Indian villages across Jammu and Kashmir. The worst-hit areas include Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Akhnoor, and especially Poonch, where 13 of the 15 civilian deaths occurred. In total, 59 civilians have been injured, and an Indian Army soldier, Dinesh Kumar of 5 Fd Regt, was also martyred in the latest round of firing.
Amid the escalating hostilities, the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) personnel stationed in Poonch were evacuated for safety after intense shelling made their continued presence untenable. Civilian evacuations are also underway in the Uri sector and Karnah region due to sustained Pakistani attacks, although no civilian casualties have yet been reported from Karnah.
In a significant military counteraction, India hit back hard. On Thursday, the Indian Armed Forces destroyed Pakistan’s Chinese-origin HQ-9 air defence systems in Lahore, neutralising key radar installations and severely compromising Pakistan’s air surveillance capabilities in the sector. According to official statements, India’s retaliation was "in the same domain and with the same intensity" as Pakistan’s provocations.
This wave of hostilities directly follows Operation Sindoor, a high-precision Indian military strike that targeted nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). These included camps associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen in locations like Bahawalpur, Muzaffarabad, and Kotli.
Despite India's targeted military responses, Pakistan has continued indiscriminate shelling, particularly affecting civilians. On Tuesday night alone, 15 Indian civilians were killed in the Poonch and Tangdhar regions. The worst-hit area was again Poonch, which accounted for all the fatalities, drawing strong condemnation and raising global concerns.
The cumulative death toll, rising evacuations, and military exchanges signal a grave deterioration in India-Pakistan relations. The international community is watching closely, particularly given the involvement of UN observers and the nuclear status of both nations.
