The Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir remains a flashpoint as Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire for the fifth consecutive night on April 28-29, escalating tensions with India to a dangerous high. According to Indian Army officials, Pakistan initiated unprovoked small arms fire across multiple sectors, including Kupwara, Baramulla, and, notably, Akhnoor—the strategic “chicken’s neck” sector where the LoC begins. Indian forces responded swiftly and effectively, with no casualties reported on the Indian side.
The latest ceasefire breach, reported by NDTV and corroborated by posts on X from credible sources like Reuters and India Today, marks an alarming escalation in both scope and intensity. Pakistani posts have increasingly targeted a wider range of Indian positions, with firing reported from multiple locations along the LoC. This follows four consecutive nights of similar violations in Poonch, Kupwara, and other sectors, which began after the devastating Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that killed 26 civilians, including 25 tourists.
India attributes the attack to Pakistan-based terror groups like The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba, and has responded with a slew of punitive measures. These include suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, closing the Attari border, expelling Pakistani diplomats, and revoking visas, prompting over 500 Pakistani nationals to leave India between April 25-27. Pakistan retaliated by suspending the Shimla Agreement, closing the Wagah checkpost, and banning Indian flights from its airspace.
The Indian Army’s robust response to the ceasefire violations, described as “appropriate” and “effective,” has been backed by heightened military preparedness. Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi reviewed the security situation in Kashmir, while the Indian Navy and Air Force conducted drills amid the rising tensions.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed an Indian military incursion is “imminent,” a statement that has fueled panic and speculation. Meanwhile, Pakistan denies involvement in the Pahalgam attack, with Asif suggesting it could be a “false flag” operation by India. These claims, echoed in some Pakistani media, have been met with skepticism internationally, with China calling for a “fair investigation” while supporting its ally Pakistan.
The ceasefire agreement, reaffirmed in February 2021, is now under severe strain. While both sides have so far limited exchanges to small arms, Indian officials warn that heavier weapons or artillery could come into play if provocations continue. Border villages along the LoC are gripped by fear, with residents reporting sleepless nights amid the sound of gunfire, according to India Today’s ground reports.
Global powers, including the U.S. and Gulf states, are reportedly engaged in frantic diplomacy to prevent a full-scale conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors. However, with Pakistan’s military on high alert and India vowing to “hunt down” those responsible for the Pahalgam attack, the region teeters on the edge of a broader confrontation.
