The Indian Army has been continuously involved in a heavy exchange of fire along the LoC in the Poonch sector of J&K. This comes after Pakistan violated the ceasefire on Monday with heavy shelling targeting civilian areas on the Indian side which resulted in three deaths. A BSF inspector was martyred and two civilians including a five year old girl lost their lives in this unprovoked heavy mortar shelling. Several others have been injured, including some BSF personnel. Firing and shelling by the Pakistan army has been going on intensely in Krishnagati, Kerni, Mankote, Gulpur, Degwar Shahpur and Poonch sub-sectors.
The targeting of civilian areas by the Pakistan Army has sent the villages nearby forward posts into a freeze. The villagers, who are bearing the brunt of this Pakistani attack, also had to suffer loss of cattle and crop in this shelling in Poonch. Some village houses have also burnt due to this shelling.
The Indian Army, as it always does, has been retaliating in a befitting manner. The massive retaliation, as has been reported by many in the media, has resulted in the deaths of ten Pakistani soldiers and in the injury of many others on the Pakistan occupied side of the border. The Pakistan Army has been doing its best to suppress the news of this Indian retaliation, playing it down.The Indian retaliation started after Pakistan resorted to heavy mortar shelling, using 120 mm mortars and some small arm firing at 07:40 am along the LoC on Monday.
All in all, Pakistani’s don’t learn from their mistakes. They have had a history of biting the dust every time their army goes on to provoke India. Amidst the rising tensions and the depleting relations between India and Paksitan, Pakistan’s foolish misadventure can prove to be fatal for them. Considering their degrading financial condition, including the FATF’s black list scare, Pakistan is standing on thin ice. Focusing on improving their financial condition, reducing the debt burden and feeding their poor should be their primary objective. However, little can be expected from a country run by a corrupt army. Welfare of the citizens takes a back seat when resources of the country are controlled by army generals. The Pakistan Army has been carrying out such ceasefire violations for a while keeping in mind that India is getting ready for general elections and our Islamic neighbor wants their friends to take power here. However, the Modi government, as the PM himself said, has given a freehand to the Armed Forces to retaliate in whichever manner they find suitable to any Pakistani misadventure.