A day after India’s surgical strikes under Operation Sindoor hit terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Pakistan indulged in heavy cross-border shelling on May 7–8. The Pakistani Army employed artillery and small arms to fire at Indian forward posts and civilian areas in Jammu and Kashmir. India reacted quickly and in proportion.
The unprovoked attack killed 13 civilians, four children, and a soldier, and left 57 injured. Locals took shelter in bunkers as shells reduced houses, cars, and even a revered Gurdwara to rubble in Poonch. The escalation marks a perilous turn, testing the tenuous 2021 ceasefire accord and spiking concerns of expanded fighting.
Night of Shelling Turns Deadly Across LoC
During the night of May 7–8, Pakistan fired across several sectors along the Line of Control (LoC). It fired at Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, and Akhnoor with small arms and artillery. The Indian Army responded with the same intensity. Shelling also extended to the Karnah sector, where mortars landed on civilian habitations after midnight.
Earlier, the Indian forces had carried out Operation Sindoor, demolishing nine terror infrastructure facilities associated with JeM, LeT, and Hizbul Mujahideen. The operations were a response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 civilian lives.
Most Civilian Casualties in Poonch
Poonch district witnessed the most destruction. All 13 fatalities were here. Three Sikh men were among the victims who succumbed after a shell exploded at the Central Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Poonch town. Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal denounced the attack and expressed grief over the deaths of Bhai Amrik Singh Ji, Bhai Amarjeet Singh, and Bhai Ranjit Singh.
Shelling leveled dozens of houses and cars. It caused panic when hundreds of the residents went to bunkers or moved to safer locations.
Injuries and Blazes in Other Districts
In Baramulla district’s URI sector, ten individuals, of whom five were children, were injured. Three were injured in the Rajouri district. Shelling caused blazes in Kupwara district’s Karnah sector, burning several homes.
This fierce exchange of fire is the first major breach since India and Pakistan renewed the ceasefire pact on February 25, 2021. The magnitude and civilian toll of Pakistan’s shelling cast a shadow over the viability of that agreement.
As India shows military finesse in its anti-terror raids and Pakistan retaliates with indiscriminate shelling, tensions may escalate further. Diplomatic corridors are quiet, while local communities suffer.
Fragile Peace Faces Collapse
If such provocations persist, the region could fall back into a cycle of violence and reprisal. India’s targeted military strikes against terror targets. Pakistan, on the other hand, attacked civilians. The dichotomy may influence world opinion and diplomatic actions.
For the moment, the casualty toll and damage highlight how rapidly peace can disintegrate. Without intense diplomatic efforts, the 2021 ceasefire can fall apart under the pressure of renewed animosity.