13 civilians killed, 59 injured in Pakistan's ceasefire violations along LoC: MEA

Pakistan’s shelling across the Line of Control has killed 13 civilians and injured 59, including 44 in Poonch, the MEA confirmed. The attacks follow India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan.

In a significant escalation of cross-border hostilities, Pakistan's military carried out a series of unprovoked ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC), killing 13 civilians and injuring 59 others, India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed on Thursday.

The brunt of the attacks was felt in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, where 44 civilians were wounded after Pakistan targeted residential areas with artillery shelling and indiscriminate firing. The remaining casualties were reported from other areas along the LoC, including Rajouri and Tangdhar.

The shelling, which began on the night of May 6, intensified through May 7, continuing even after India launched Operation Sindoor, a massive tri-services military offensive that struck nine terror infrastructure sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).

Among those who laid down their lives was Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar of the 5 Field Regiment. The White Knight Corps, under which he served, paid tribute to his “supreme sacrifice” and also expressed solidarity with the affected civilians in the Poonch sector.

Visuals from the shelling sites showed shattered windows, cracked walls, and debris-strewn homes in the border villages. Many families were forced to flee overnight, although several locals told reporters they would “stand firm” in support of the Indian Army.

“The ceasefire may be violated again, but we will not leave. The women and children have gone to safer places, but we will stay,” said a resident in Poonch.

According to official defence sources, the Pakistan Army fired from both LoC and International Border (IB) positions in the Poonch, Rajouri, and Tangdhar sectors. Heavy artillery, mortars, and small arms were reportedly used in the shelling.

India has condemned the attacks as a grave breach of the 2021 ceasefire agreement and has vowed “proportionate retaliation.” The Indian Army has already been responding to Pakistani aggression with coordinated counter-attacks, the officials said.

The surge in border hostilities comes just after India’s precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, which was carried out in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, including 25 Indian citizens and one Nepali national.

Operation Sindoor targeted nine key terror hubs—four in Pakistan (including Bahawalpur, Muridke, and Sialkot) and five in PoJK. The joint effort by the Army, Navy, and Air Force used precision-guided munitions and was monitored overnight by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. All objectives were confirmed hit.

The international community has largely supported India’s right to self-defence, with nations such as the United States, France, and the United Kingdom expressing solidarity. The United Nations, while calling for restraint, acknowledged India’s right to target terror outfits responsible for cross-border violence.

India maintains that peace along the border is impossible unless Pakistan dismantles terror networks operating from its soil. However, as long as shelling continues and civilian lives are lost, the fragile calm along the LoC remains under severe strain.