Pakistani Troops Violate Ceasefire, Trigger Retaliation
In a move that underscores heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing in eight forward sectors along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir on May 4, 2025. This marks the 11th consecutive night of Pakistan’s unprovoked firing along the LoC, following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people.
The firing was initiated by Pakistani troops across five border districts—Jammu, Rajouri, and Poonch in the south of the Pir Panjal ranges in the Jammu region, and Baramulla and Kupwara districts in the Kashmir valley—overnight. Initially beginning with unprovoked small arms fire at several posts along the LoC in Kupwara and Baramulla districts of north Kashmir, Pakistan swiftly expanded its ceasefire violations to the Poonch sector and subsequently to the Akhnoor sector of the Jammu region.
The firing was also reported in the Sunderbani and Naushera sectors of Rajouri district, and subsequently in the Pargwal sector along the International Border in Jammu district. Despite the fact that the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan spoke over the hotline on April 29, warning about the unprovoked firings, the ceasefire violation by Pakistan occurred despite these warnings.
Since the night of April 24, just hours after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty following the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistani troops have been resorting to unprovoked firing at various places along the LoC in J&K, starting from the Kashmir valley. On April 24, Pakistan blocked its airspace for Indian airlines, closed the Wagah border crossing, suspended all trade with India, and stated that any attempt to divert water meant for Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty would be considered an "Act of War."
The ceasefire violation by Pakistan has made the February 2021 ceasefire agreement redundant, with widespread violations by Pakistan in scores of sectors along the 740-kilometre-long LoC. India and Pakistan had agreed to a renewed ceasefire along the borders in Jammu and Kashmir in February 2021, but the situation has significantly changed since then. Since February 2021, the DGMOs of India and Pakistan have reiterated their commitment to the 2003 ceasefire agreement to ensure peace along the de facto border.
India shares a total of 3,323 km of border with Pakistan, divided into three parts: the International Border (IB), approximately 2,400 km from Gujarat to the northern banks of the Chenab River in Akhnoor, Jammu; the Line of Control (LoC), 740 km long, running from parts of Jammu to parts of Leh; and the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL), 110 km long, dividing the Siachen region from NJ 9842 to Indira Col in the north.
