Pakistan violates ceasefire for 4th night straight; targets Poonch, Kupwara sectors

Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Kupwara districts, continuing with their ceasefire violations along the LoC, Army officials said on 28 April, Monday.

This was the fourth consecutive night that Pakistan resorted to small-arms fire along the Line of Control (LoC) and came amid heightened tension between New Delhi and Islamabad following last week's in .

A defence spokesperson said, “During the night of April 27-28, Pakistan Army posts initiated unprovoked small arms fire across the LoC in areas opposite Kupwara and Poonch districts.”

Indian troops responded swiftly and effectively, he added.

There were no reports of any casualties.

Pakistani Army fired at different Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) on Thursday night, 24 April, as well as on the intervening nights of 25-26 April and 26-27 April, each time meeting with appropriate response.

The Pakistan military has been put on high alert following India's assertion that it would hunt down the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam strike.

Given the cross-border linkages to the Pahalgam attack, India last Wednesday, 23 April, announced a raft of punitive measures, including the suspension of the 65-year-old , the closing of the Attari land border crossing and the expulsion of Pakistani military attaches.

New Delhi also asked all Pakistanis who entered the country via the to leave by 1 May.

In its response, Pakistan announced Thursday that it would shut down its airspace to all Indian airlines and suspend trade with New Delhi, including through third countries.

Pakistan also rejected India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and said any measures to stop the flow of water belonging to Pakistan under the pact would be seen as an “act of war”.

Amid nationwide outrage over the Pahalgam attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the killers would be pursued “to the ends of the earth” as he promised to “identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers”.