In a grim escalation of tensions along the Line of Control (LoC), unprovoked firing by the Pakistan Army resulted in the deaths of 13 individuals, including four children and one Indian soldier, in the intervening night of May 7-8, 2025. The firing targeted multiple regions across Jammu and Kashmir, including Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, and Akhnoor, marking the 14th consecutive day of ceasefire violations by Pakistani forces.
Operation Sindoor: India’s Precision Response
Just a day prior, India had launched Operation Sindoor, a high-precision counterstrike operation aimed at dismantling terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation was triggered by the brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, in which 26 civilians, including a Nepali national, were killed. At precisely 1:05 am on May 7, Indian forces initiated a 25-minute missile operation targeting nine terror camps reportedly housing operatives of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen. Defence sources confirmed that 70 terrorists were killed and 60 more injured in these coordinated strikes.
India’s Ministry of Defence stated that the action was “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” emphasizing that no Pakistani military installations were targeted. The statement further added that India exercised restraint in both the choice of targets and execution methods, with the objective of sending a strong yet controlled message.
Pakistan’s Retaliation Hits Civilians
Following Operation Sindoor, the Pakistan Army launched one of its most aggressive shelling campaigns in years, using both artillery and mortar fire. Civilian areas in Jammu’s Poonch and Tangdhar sectors were among the worst hit. According to defence officials, the retaliatory shelling claimed at least 15 civilian lives and injured 43 others, pushing several border communities into a state of fear and displacement.
Among the fallen was Dinesh Kumar Sharma, a soldier from Haryana, whose sacrifice was honored by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini. “Every citizen of the country is proud of your martyrdom. This country will never forget your sacrifice,” the Chief Minister stated on social media.
Global Concerns Mount as Tensions Escalate
The violence comes at a time when cross-border tensions have been steadily rising, particularly after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty on April 24 as a direct consequence of the Pahalgam attack. Since then, ceasefire violations by Pakistan have intensified, affecting villages and civilian populations across the LoC.
The situation has drawn concern from major global powers, including the United States, China, and Russia, all of whom have issued statements urging both nations to de-escalate and engage in dialogue.
Adding to preparedness efforts, civil defence mock drills were carried out in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Gwalior, and Jaipur earlier this week. These drills were part of a broader readiness strategy to evaluate emergency response systems amid the rising threat of conflict.
As both countries stand at a delicate juncture, all eyes are on the leadership in New Delhi and Islamabad, with hopes that diplomacy will prevail over further violence.
