Pakistani Troops Violate Ceasefire For Fourth Night Amid Rising Tensions After Pahalgam Attack

Pakistani troops engaged in unprovoked firing, breaching the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir for the fourth consecutive night, officials reported this morning.

"During the night of April 27-28, Pakistan Army posts initiated unprovoked small arms fire across the Line of Control in areas opposite Kupwara and Poonch districts," the Indian Army stated, adding that they responded "swiftly and effectively".

Photo Credit: PTI

This marked the first instance of the Pakistan Army violating the ceasefire in the Poonch sector.

The exchange of fire between Indian and Pakistani forces followed the death of 26 individuals in a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam last Tuesday.

Ties between India and Pakistan have deteriorated further after the involvement of a terror group linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba came to light in the Pahalgam attack - the deadliest in Jammu and Kashmir since the Pulwama incident.

India has imposed a series of stringent measures against Pakistan, including the expulsion of Pakistani military attachés, suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty which had been in place for over six decades, and the immediate closure of the Attari land transit post.

These decisions were made on Wednesday following a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who vowed that India would "identify, track and punish" every terrorist and their "backers" responsible for the deadly assault.

Pakistan, in turn, has suspended all bilateral agreements with India, including the Simla Agreement.

The police have released sketches of three terrorists suspected of involvement in the Pahalgam attack.

According to the notices published by the police on X, the three suspects are: Hashim Musa alias Suleman and Ali Bhai alias Talha Bhai, both residents of Pakistan, and Adil Hussain Thoker, a native of Anantnag district.

A reward of ₹20 lakh has been announced for credible information leading to their arrest.