New Delhi: Pakistani troops opened “unprovoked” fire at Indian Army posts across the Line of Control (LoC) late Friday night, in what officials described as a continued effort to provoke Indian forces amid soaring tensions following the killing of 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam earlier this week.
This marks the second consecutive night of ceasefire violations by Pakistan, Indian military sources were quoted in reports on Saturday, confirming speculative firing from multiple Pakistani Army posts along the LoC — the de facto boundary separating the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
“On the night of 25th-26th of April 2025, unprovoked Small Firing was carried out by multiple Pakistan Army post all across the Line of Control in Kashmir. Indian troops responded appropriately with small arms. No casualties reported,” the Indian Army said in a statement.
Reports suggested that Pakistani troops were attempting to gauge the alertness of Indian soldiers as public outrage mounted across India over the Tuesday massacre, where five foreign terrorists shot dead at least 26 civilians in Baisaran meadow — a popular tourist spot dubbed “Mini Switzerland.”
The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the coordinated strike. Intelligence officials believe the gunmen were remotely guided by Hafiz Saeed, the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks and chief of Lashkar-e-Taiba.
In response, India has launched a sweeping diplomatic and strategic offensive. On Wednesday, the Indian government suspended the decades-old Indus Water Treaty, accusing Pakistan of enabling “sustained cross-border terrorism.” Union Water Resources Minister C.R. Patil declared, “Not a drop of Indus water will flow to Pakistan until they act against terror.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a sharply worded statement, vowed relentless pursuit of those responsible. “We will hunt them down to the ends of the earth. Those behind this barbaric act will face a punishment greater than they can imagine,” he said.
The fallout has extended beyond the battlefield. Both nations have withdrawn their diplomatic staff and halted visa services. Nationals of each country currently across the border have been given a short window to return, with cross-border civilian travel frozen indefinitely.
Islamabad has retaliated by suspending all bilateral pacts with New Delhi, including the Simla Agreement — the foundational document that governs peace protocols between the two countries. The Wagah Border ceremony, once a symbol of competitive patriotism and mutual showmanship, has been indefinitely suspended.
With rhetoric hardening and diplomatic ties unraveling, the region stands at its most volatile point in years, raising international concerns of a wider escalation between the South Asian rivals.
