The Indian army successfully attacked and destroyed 10 Pakistani army posts in Kahawlian and Naali Samhani on Thursday. Indian officials report “severe damage” caused to the posts along the Line of Control (LoC).
Indian army officials allege that this action was in retaliation to the repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan in the Rajouri and Poonch regions, which led to the death of at least one jawan and one civilian. An off-duty policeman was also injured in Nowshera. Lt. Col. Devender Anand said, “Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and shelling with mortars along LoC in Mankote sector of Poonch district.” Since Monday, Indian officials report that Pakistani attacks have affected dozens of villages.
On the other hand, Pakistan is also accusing India of violating the ceasefire and targeting civilian areas along the Line of Control in the Jandrot sector. Pakistani officials claim that India’s actions caused the death of four innocent civilians. As a result, on June 9, four Indian officials in Pakistan were summoned and questioned. Pakistan also pressed Indian authorities to “allow the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan to play its mandated role as per the United Nations Security Council resolutions”.
The increased military activity comes amidst ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. Recently, the Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police reported that “over 300 terrorists are present in terror launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (PoK), waiting to infiltrate India”. The Indian army chief, General M.M. Narvane, further accused Pakistan of sponsoring and supporting the new terror group in India called “The Resistance Front.” He also warned that the Indian Army “will give [a] proportionate response to all acts of infringement of ceasefire and its (Pakistan’s) support to terrorism”.
India and Pakistan’s current disagreement has led to more than just a “war of words”. While bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries hit an all-time low in August following India’s decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, 2020 has seen a significant surge in cross-border shelling by both India and Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC). From January to April, several officials said that there was an average of a dozen incidents per day. Pakistan has also accused India of 1,101 ceasefire violations, which allegedly led to the death of several civilians.
On May 9, Ajit Doval, India’s National Adviser, conducted a complete review of the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Following the assessment, he directed top Army commanders and paramilitary forces to strengthen the counter-infiltration forces along LoC and the counter-insurgency forces in Kashmir Valley. This meeting came in response to the increased militant activity in the Handwara, Baramulla, and Sopore regions. With the Indian army’s increased presence since then, the diplomatic battle of both words and arms between India and Pakistan is likely to continue and escalate further.
India-Pakistan Dispute Coverage:
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- Narendra Modi Attends NAM Videoconference, Covertly Blasts Pakistan
- Top Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Killed by Indian Troops
- Following Handwara Attack, Pakistan Increases Fighter Aircraft Activity Along Border
- SCO Meet: India and Pakistan Trade Blows, China and Russia Hit Out at US
- Indian Army Chief Addresses Simmering Tensions with Nepal, China, and Pakistan
- Imran Khan Warns of “False Flag Operation” Against Pakistan, India Dismisses Allegations
- Two Pakistani High Commission Officials Detained for Espionage
Image Source: Zee News