Indian Army retaliates against unprovoked small arms firing by Pakistan

SRINAGAR: Amid escalating tensions following the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the Indian Army has responded to the unprovoked small arms firing across the Line of Control (LoC) during the intervening night of May 2 and 3, official said on Saturday.

The Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked small arms firing across the LoC in areas opposite the Kupwara, Uri, and Akhnoor areas of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. According to officials, the Indian Army responded promptly and proportionately to the same.

Earlier, the Pakistan Army indulged in small arms firing across the LoC on the night of May 1 and 2 in areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, and Poonch districts, as well as in the Naushera and Akhnoor sectors in J&K, which was retaliated against effectively by the Indian Army.

According to the Indian Army, the troops responded in a calibrated and proportionate manner to the unprovoked small arms firing by the Pakistan Army. This is the ninth consecutive day of India’s effective retaliation since the Pakistan Army’s unprovoked small arms firing on the night of April 25-26.

Earlier, the Indian Army effectively responded to Pakistan’s small arms firing across the LoC in Kupwara district as well as in the Uri and Akhnoor sectors in the region.

On Wednesday, India closed its airspace to all aircraft registered in Pakistan and those operated by Pakistani airlines, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), another major step following the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam in which 26 people were killed.

India issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), confirming the closure of its airspace to all Pakistani-registered, operated, or leased aircraft, including military flights, from April 30 to May 23 (estimated duration).

On Tuesday, the Director General of Military Operations of India and Pakistan talked over the hotline to discuss the unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistan, as per defence sources. Sources said India warned Pakistan against the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Pakistan Army along the LoC and the International Border. (ANI)