Pakistan resumes heavy shelling in J&K’s Poonch sector, escalating border tensions

POONCH: Pakistan has resumed heavy shelling in the Poonch sector, escalating border tensions. Pakistan also resorted to small arms and artillery fire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday evening. The Indian Army has been responding proportionately.

#WATCH | J&K: CCTV Visuals from a residence in Poonch, show evidence of Pakistan shelling

(CCTV Visuals from 7th May) pic.twitter.com/QupvC0pz5C

— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025

In a major escalation along India’s western front, the Pakistani army carried out multiple airspace violations and drone intrusions on the night of May 7 and 8, targeting Indian military infrastructure. Addressing a press briefing on Friday, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi revealed that 300 to 400 drones were deployed across 36 locations, with several being shot down by Indian forces using both kinetic and non-kinetic methods. Initial investigations suggest the drones were Turkish-made Asisguard Songar models.

#WATCH | J&K: CCTV Visuals from a residence in Poonch, show evidence of Pakistan shelling

(CCTV Visuals from the morning of 7th May) pic.twitter.com/HEbBLcXbhJ

— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2025

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said during the press briefing, “On the night of May 7 and 8, the Pakistani army violated Indian airspace several times over the entire western border to target military infrastructure. Not only this, the Pakistani army also fired heavy-calibre weapons along the Line of Control. Around 300 to 400 drones were used to attempt infiltration at 36 locations.”

She added, “The Indian armed forces shot down many of these drones using kinetic and non-kinetic means. The possible purpose of such large-scale aerial intrusions was to test air defence systems and collect intelligence. Forensic investigation of the wreckage of the drones is being done. Initial reports suggest that they are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones…”

Escalating its tensions with India, Pakistan targeted Jammu using Hamas-style missiles to target multiple areas on Thursday. The attack resembled a Hamas-style operation in Israel, where multiple cheap rockets were used to target cities.

Pakistan’s attempted retaliation came in the wake of India’s Operation Sindoor, where the Indian armed forces targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday. The operation was a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

On Thursday, the Indian Army had shot down more than 50 Pakistani drones during a large-scale counter-drone operation along the LoC and International Borders (IB). The Indian Armed Forces also successfully neutralised Pakistan military’s attempts at a large-scale drone and missile attack on multiple Indian military installations across Northern and Western India during the night of May 7-8, and an Air Defence system at Lahore was neutralised. (ANI)