According to media reports, on Wednesday, unprovoked firing from the Pakistanis—10-15 rounds—was opened into the Indian posts that had been established along the Line of Control in the Mendhar sector of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir. The retaliation by the Indian Army was swift and powerful, causing extremely heavy casualties on the enemy sides. It was the first ceasefire violation of the year and the fourth incident in five days of cross-border aggressions that had taken place at that time.
Unprovoked firing came from the Pakistan side on Wednesday evening. Ten to fifteen rounds were fired by the Pakistani troops. The Indian Army overtook the positions of the enemy almost immediately. The extent of damage on the Pakistani side couldn’t be ascertained, although reports from the media have confirmed that their forces have sustained heavy losses.
Loss of Two Indian Soldiers
Also, in this case, following a tragic incident wherein two Indian Army personnel, Captain Karamjit Singh Bakshi and Naik Mukesh, died a day before due to an IED blast carried out by suspected terrorists just short of the Line of Control in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu district where the explosion was suspected to be part of an infiltration attempt, it triggered an escalation of tensions that highlighted the continuing threats to the Indo-Pak border. The Indian Army raised its counter-terror operations subsequently.
Rare Ceasefire Violation
While such ceasefire violations were rare after the revival of the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan on February 25, 2021, tensions increased recently. The recent happenings portray the ongoing threat of cross-border hostility and infiltration attempts by terrorists from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
JCO Injured in Landmine Blast
On the same day, one more incident occurred where a Junior Commissioned Officer of the Indian Army was injured after stepping on a landmine while patrolling the line of control in Mendhar. The injured officer, who hails from the area, was quickly evacuated to a military hospital. The landmine was likely placed as a counterinfiltration measure to stop any terrorist movement across the borders.
Increasing Hostilities Along the LoC
The security situation along the LoC has seen a noticeable uptick in hostile activities. On February 10, Lieutenant General Navin Sachdeva, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the White Knight Corps, conducted a review of the prevailing security scenario in Rajouri district. He was accompanied by GOCs of the Ace of Spades and Crossed Swords divisions, reinforcing the military’s commitment to maintaining vigilance along the border.
The recent incidents have also put more stress on the already troubled security situation in the region. An Army patrol operating in the Keri sector of Rajouri on February 8 was fired upon by terrorists from the forest area across the LoC, believed to be a planned infiltration. On February 5, some terrorists trying to infiltrate through the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district met with casualties when some improvised explosive devices went off, disrupting their movement.
Indian Army’s Resolute Response
The Indian Army still stands firm in the defense of sovereignty and in defense of its people. The loss of Captain Karamjit Singh Bakshi and Naik Mukesh, coupled with a number of ceasefire violations, made military forces up their vigilance and response mechanisms to avoid further provocations or infiltrations from the enemy forces. The situation remains tense at the line of control with security on alert.
