Top News

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated dramatically on Saturday with intense mortar shelling and drone strikes by the Pakistani military, which resulted in the tragic deaths of seven people, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and a Border Security Force (BSF) trooper. Several others were injured in the attacks that rocked India's border districts early in the morning. The violence also left debris of unidentified projectiles and created craters in agricultural fields, highlighting the severity of the military conflict.

"Seven persons, including a JCO and a BSF trooper, were killed and several others injured in mortar shelling and drone strikes by Pakistani military early Saturday in India's border districts where debris of unidentified projectiles were also found and a crater was formed in an agricultural field."

In a small respite after several days of unrelenting violence, India and Pakistan reached an agreement later in the day to halt all firing and military actions on land, air, and sea, effective immediately. The ceasefire followed four days of intense cross-border exchanges, which had sparked fears of an even broader conflict.

"However, as the day was drawing to a close, India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with immediate effect after four days of cross-border strikes that triggered fears of a wider conflict."

Following a night of mounting tension, India awoke to the sounds of explosions, drone strikes, and mortar shelling from Jammu and Kashmir and several areas in Punjab. The violence in Jammu's R S Pura sector left BSF sub-inspector Mohammed Imteyaz dead, while eight other BSF personnel sustained injuries and were treated at a military medical facility.

In the Rajouri region of Jammu, a Pakistani artillery shell struck the residence of Additional District Development Commissioner Raj Kumar Thapa, severely injuring him and his two staff members. Thapa later succumbed to his injuries. "Subedar Major Pawan Kumar, a resident of Himachal Pradesh, laid down his life when a Pakistani artillery shell exploded near his post in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch this morning."

The civilian toll also mounted, with two-year-old Aisha Noor and 35-year-old Mohd Shohib killed by Pakistani shelling near an industrial area in Rajouri. Additionally, 55-year-old Rashida Bi lost her life when a mortar shell struck her house in Mendhar sector, Poonch district. "In another incident, Ashok Kumar alias Shoki, a resident of Bidipur Jatta village, was killed in cross-border firing in the R S Pura, the officials said."

The violence extended beyond border posts, as several areas within India were struck by suspected drone attacks. Pakistani drones targeted a range of locations, including areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and even Gujarat. "These strikes in the morning followed after Pakistan launched a wave of drone attacks targeting 26 locations in India -- from Jammu and Kashmir to Gujarat -- for the second night on Friday."

Debris from these drones was found in several places, including Amritsar, Jalandhar, Pathankot, and Tarn Taran districts in Punjab, while a significant crater was formed in Gurdaspur’s Rajubela Chhichhran village after an explosion. No casualties were reported, but electrical wires in the area were damaged.

A similar incident occurred in Phagwara, where an unidentified object fell in a field between Khalyan and Sahni villages, creating a large crater. "The impact of the unidentified object created a crater about 7-8 feet deep and 12-14 feet wide in the field."

Meanwhile, authorities in various regions, including Pathankot, Jalandhar, and Hoshiarpur, issued precautionary measures such as the closure of markets and heightened vigilance. This came after reports of explosion-like sounds in these areas, signaling potential further threats.

In Rajasthan, markets in Barmer and Jaisalmer were closed as a precaution, following multiple drone attacks that were neutralized mid-air by Indian defense forces. Despite these preventive measures, debris from suspected drones was found in Barmer and Jaisalmer districts.

The flare-up in hostilities came after India conducted precision strikes against terror launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Wednesday, a response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack that had cross-border connections. The retaliatory strikes further intensified the already volatile situation along the India-Pakistan border.

"India shares a total of 3,323 km of border with Pakistan, divided into three parts: the International Border (IB), approximately 2,400 km from Gujarat to the northern banks of the Chenab river in Akhnoor, Jammu; the 740-km-long Line of Control (LoC), running from parts of Jammu to parts of Leh; and the Actual Ground Position Line, 110 km long, dividing the Siachen region from NJ 9842 to Indira Col in the north."



(WITH PTI INPUTS)