The Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan has erupted in violence following India’s high-profile Operation Sindoor, which targeted nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in the early hours of May 7, 2025. The operation, a direct response to the deadly Pahalgam attack on Indian tourists in April, has triggered a sharp escalation in hostilities, with tragic consequences for civilians along the volatile border.
India’s joint Army, Navy, and Air Force operation employed advanced missiles and precision-guided munitions to destroy key terror infrastructure, including Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba headquarters in Bahawalpur and Muridke. Indian officials emphasized that only terrorist sites were targeted, with no Pakistani military or civilian infrastructure in the crosshairs. However, Pakistan has claimed that several civilians and mosques were hit, a charge India denies.
In retaliation for the strikes, Pakistani forces unleashed heavy artillery and mortar shelling across the LoC, particularly in the Poonch and Rajauri districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Indian officials confirmed that three civilians, including a woman and two children, were killed in the shelling, with at least 38 others injured. The worst-hit areas include forward villages in Poonch, where 25 people were wounded, as well as the Uri sector in Baramulla and parts of Rajauri.
With artillery exchanges intensifying, Indian authorities have ordered evacuations in the most affected border villages. Residents are being moved to bunkers and safer locations as a precaution against further escalation. The Indian Army has responded with proportionate force, aiming to neutralize Pakistani firing positions while minimizing civilian harm.
The renewed hostilities come amid a broader diplomatic crisis, with both countries recalling diplomats, suspending visa services, and closing border crossings. International leaders, including the UN Secretary-General, have called for restraint and dialogue as fears of a wider conflict mount.
With both sides trading blame and casualties mounting, the situation along the LoC remains tense and unpredictable. India maintains that its actions were “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” directly linking Operation Sindoor to the Pahalgam attack and vowing to hold cross-border terror groups accountable. Pakistan, meanwhile, has vowed comprehensive retaliation and continues to dispute India’s account of the strikes.
