Aftershock of Operation Sindoor: Pakistan Shells LoC, India Responds as Tensions Escalate

New Delhi : Hours after the Indian Armed Forces executed ‘Operation Sindoor’, a high-precision military strike on nine terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the Pakistan Army responded with heavy artillery shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) for the 13th consecutive day, further intensifying cross-border tensions.

The Indian Air Force carried out the pre-dawn strikes around 1:44 a.m. without breaching Pakistani airspace. According to defence sources, the targets included high-value terror infrastructure at Muridke near Lahore, Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad, areas known to house terror outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and other militant groups.

The strikes came as a direct response to the barbaric terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed the lives of 25 Indian citizens and one Nepali national. The Indian military’s action was described as “measured, focused, and non-escalatory,” with no Pakistani military installations targeted.

In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said, “India has demonstrated considerable restraint in the selection of targets and the method of execution. The message is clear—those responsible for sponsoring terror on Indian soil will be held accountable.”

However, just hours after the operation, the Pakistan Army retaliated with unprovoked and indiscriminate firing across several sectors along the LoC and International Border in Jammu and Kashmir. Three civilians were killed in shelling in the Mankot area of Poonch district, while several others sustained injuries and were shifted to hospitals for treatment.

The Indian Army is said to be responding proportionately to the ceasefire violations in areas including Krishna Ghati, Bhimber Gali, Lam, Mendhar, Kupwara, Karnah, Uri, Rajouri, Akhnoor, and other sectors.

As explosions echoed through Muzaffarabad in PoK—believed to host training camps and launch pads for militants—power outages and mass panic followed. Loudspeaker announcements from mosques urged residents to stay indoors. Reports also confirmed explosions in Kotli, another terror stronghold.

The Indian Army confirmed the success of Operation Sindoor with a post on X, stating “Justice is Served. Jai Hind.” Minutes before confirming the strikes, a video was shared captioned, “Ready to Strike, Trained to Win.”

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the armed forces on X with a triumphant “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.” The daring operation and its swift execution reportedly caught Pakistani forces completely off guard.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is said to have monitored the operation overnight in close coordination with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and senior military commanders. Government sources indicated that the objective was not just retaliation but to send a decisive message against the use of terror as a tool of statecraft.

In the aftermath of the operation and the ensuing shelling, civilian life in Jammu and Kashmir has been severely affected. The Srinagar International Airport has been shut down, and no civilian flights will be operated until further notice, according to the Indian Air Force.

The Divisional Commissioners of both Jammu and Kashmir divisions have ordered the closure of all schools, colleges, and educational institutions in districts including Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, Poonch, Baramulla, Kupwara, and Gurez for the day, citing safety concerns amid rising hostilities.

Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) later acknowledged the strikes, describing them as “cowardly” and confirming the targeting of areas like Kotli, Bahawalpur, and Muzaffarabad. However, Pakistani military casualties or structural damage have not been independently verified.

This fresh escalation along the India-Pakistan border highlights the fragile nature of the ceasefire understanding established in early 2021. With both nuclear powers now locked in a new round of hostilities, the international community will likely watch closely for signs of further escalation—or diplomacy.

Operation Sindoor marks a turning point in India’s counter-terror posture, underlining the country’s readiness to act decisively and surgically in defense of its citizens. While the government has reiterated its desire to avoid unnecessary conflict, it has also made it clear that India will not tolerate cross-border terrorism—no matter where it hides.