At the break of dawn, residents in villages along the LoC woke to sounds of thunder—only it wasn’t the weather. It was heavy shelling from the Pakistan Army, which left seven civilians dead and at least 38 wounded in a barrage that targeted non-military infrastructure.
The shelling was sudden and widespread, spanning at least five sectors including Uri, Poonch, and Nowshera. A majority of the deceased were hit while performing their morning chores or tending livestock. Some of the injured were pulled from beneath collapsed roofs, as structures gave way under the impact of 81mm and 120mm mortar blasts.
Indian security forces immediately responded, engaging the source of fire and returning artillery across the border. Senior Army officials confirmed that “strong and effective action” was taken, and several Pakistani positions suffered “significant damage.” However, they emphasized that India’s response was calibrated to avoid civilian casualties on the other side.
This latest flare-up has put a spotlight on the vulnerability of border populations. Many homes in the affected zones are not reinforced to withstand shelling, and local residents often rely on community-built bunkers or natural caves. “We keep digging graves for our own while the world watches silently,” said Mehmooda Bano, whose cousin was among the dead.
The incident has also raised fresh questions about the efficacy of the 2021 ceasefire agreement, which had held firm for more than a year but has seen a steady increase in violations in recent months. Defense analysts believe that such attacks are part of a broader strategy by Pakistan to destabilize the region and internationalize the Kashmir issue once again.
As the region mourns, authorities remain on high alert, bracing for potential follow-up attacks. Meanwhile, the people of Jammu and Kashmir face the grim reality of life on the frontline—where peace is fragile, and war never truly ends.
