12 Civilians Killed, 42 Injured in Pakistan Shelling in Poonch

A new wave of violence erupted along the Line of Control (LoC) on Wednesday morning, as Pakistan launched intense artillery shelling targeting multiple civilian areas in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. The attack resulted in the deaths of 12 civilians and left 42 others injured. This escalation followed India’s precision strikes on nine terror launch pads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), carried out in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives.

According to a senior police officer in Poonch, among the victims were four children aged between 7 and 14, including two siblings. The shelling also took the lives of four members of the Sikh community, including a woman, and a Muslim cleric, Qari Mohammad Iqbal, who was affiliated with Darul Uloom Madarsa.

The Pakistani artillery fire was indiscriminate, affecting a wide area that included Balakote, Mendhar, Mankote, Sagra, Krishna Ghati, Gulpur, Kerni, and even the Poonch town headquarters. Civilian structures suffered significant damage, with dozens of homes affected. Notably, the Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha and Christ School in Poonch town were also struck during the attack.

Eyewitnesses reported scenes of chaos and fear, as residents hurried to underground bunkers or fled to safer locations. “There is panic in Poonch town, which has already witnessed two deaths due to the Pakistani shelling. You can see long queues at fuel stations, and villagers are moving to their relatives’ houses in Jammu,” said resident Darshan Bharti.

This sudden escalation has raised concerns about prolonged hostilities in the border regions. Security forces remain on high alert while relief efforts are underway for those injured and displaced by the attack. Medical teams have been deployed to assist the victims, and district authorities have initiated the process of relocating vulnerable populations to safer areas.

This incident marks a sharp increase in border violence, highlighting the volatile security situation following India’s cross-border operations. With tensions running high, diplomatic and military channels are expected to remain active in the coming days to contain further escalation.

As families mourn their loved ones and entire villages face displacement, the human cost of cross-border conflict continues to rise, adding urgency to calls for peace and civilian safety along the LoC.