Pak Opens Fire Along LoC, Encounter in Bandipora Amid Post-Pahalgam Tensions
Tensions escalated along the Line of Control as Pakistani troops opened fire on Indian positions while security forces engaged terrorists in a fierce encounter in Bandipora.
Pakistani troops opened fire across the Line of Control (LoC) on Friday, prompting Indian forces to retaliate, defence sources confirmed. The exchange of fire comes in the wake of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians earlier this week.
No injuries or casualties were reported from the LoC firing incident at the time of publishing.
In a separate but concurrent operation, security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Kulnar Bazipora area of Bandipora district, acting on intelligence inputs about the presence of militants.
“The terrorists opened fire on the search team, triggering a gunfight,” a senior police officer told reporters. The operation was ongoing at the time of reporting, with additional reinforcements rushed to the site.
On Thursday, a soldier from the Army’s special forces lost his life during a counter-terror operation in the Dudu-Basantgarh area of Udhampur. The encounter erupted after forces received inputs about terrorist movement in the region.
This marks the second major encounter in Jammu and Kashmir in two days, highlighting a surge in militant activity in the region.
These developments follow the brutal massacre of 26 tourists in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam earlier this week. The Resistance Front (TRF), an affiliate of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
India has since revoked all visas for Pakistani nationals and suspended visa services entirely, while Pakistan has termed India’s moves as “water warfare” in response to the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
With back-to-back encounters and cross-border skirmishes, authorities remain on high alert across Jammu and Kashmir. Security has been tightened, and more anti-terror operations are expected in the coming days.
