Tensions Escalate as Indian Soldier Killed in Shelling by Pakistan Army

Fatal Shelling Along the Line of Control

The Indian Army reported that a soldier lost his life on Wednesday due to shelling from the Pakistani military along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, following the execution of Operation Sindoor.

According to reports, the civilian casualties from the Pakistani Army's firing in four districts near the Line of Control have risen to 12, which includes three women and three children.

Additionally, fifty-one civilians sustained injuries during the attacks.

This escalation in shelling occurred after the Indian military conducted strikes earlier on Wednesday, targeting what it described as terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as part of Operation Sindoor, in retaliation for a recent terror attack in Pahalgam. A total of nine sites were struck.

In response, the Pakistan Army increased its shelling and firing in the Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu, as well as in Kupwara and Baramulla districts in the Kashmir valley.

The soldier who died has been identified as Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar from the 5 Field Regiment.

“We express our solidarity with all victims of the targeted attacks on innocent civilians in the Poonch sector,” stated the army on Wednesday night.

In response to the ongoing shelling, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah convened an emergency meeting with deputy commissioners from border districts to evaluate the situation.

The chief minister has allocated Rs 5 crore to each border district and Rs 2 crore to other districts to ensure that local authorities are adequately equipped to handle emergencies.

Reports indicate that at least 26 individuals were killed in Pakistan due to India's strikes, with Islamabad asserting that the operations resulted in civilian casualties and labeled them a breach of its sovereignty.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized that the strikes were aimed solely at those responsible for the deaths of innocent individuals.

He described Operation Sindoor as being executed with “precision, alertness, and humanity” to minimize civilian impact, reiterating that the action was “focused, measured, and non-escalatory.”

Pakistan's National Security Committee announced that it had authorized its armed forces to respond to Operation Sindoor.

The Indian military stated that it is fully prepared to counter any “Pakistani misadventures” that could heighten tensions between the two nations.

The terror attack in the Baisaran area near Pahalgam on April 22 resulted in 26 fatalities and 17 injuries, with terrorists targeting tourists based on their religious identity, according to police reports. Most of the deceased were Hindu.

Following the Pahalgam attack, India and Pakistan exchanged diplomatic barbs, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and bilateral trade, as well as expelling diplomats.