In the early hours of Wednesday, the tension between India and Pakistan reached a new critical point after intense shelling by the Pakistani army on the Poonch region, in Jammu and Kashmir, along the Line of Control (LoC).
At least 12 civilians were killed and 57 were injured as a result of the heavy artillery and mortar fire, according to Indian local government sources. Among the fatalities were four children and three members of the Sikh community. Additionally, the violence caused significant damage to a local gurdwara, the Sikh temple Sri Guru Singh Sabha.
The shelling occurred just hours after India launched the so-called "Operation Sindoor," an air offensive in which nine terrorist camps were attacked located in Pakistani territory and in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
This operation was a direct retaliation for the terrorist attack that occurred on April 22 in Pahalgam, where 26 people were killed, including several tourists.
Eyewitnesses described the shelling as more intense than during the Kargil War of 1999. A local shopkeeper was one of the fatalities, hit by an explosion just as he arrived at his store.
The nearby Sikh temple, Sri Guru Singh Sabha, suffered severe structural damage. Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht, the highest spiritual authority of Sikhism, condemned the attack, calling it "a blow to humanity." He called for restraint and dialogue between the governments of India and Pakistan, stating that "wisdom, not weapons, is needed."
Meanwhile, the leader of the Indian political party Shiromani Akali Dal, Sukhbir Singh Badal, also strongly condemned the attack, honoring the three Sikh martyrs: Bhai Amrik Singh, Bhai Amarjeet Singh, and Bhai Ranjit Singh.
Los templos sij fueron apuntados como objetivos por los pakistaníes
He demanded that they be given the appropriate honors and that their families receive adequate compensation. Ravneet Singh Bittu, Union Minister and BJP leader, expressed his condolences and stated that India "will not tolerate such barbarity."
The attack intensified fear among residents of the border areas, who fled to safer places or took refuge in underground bunkers.
The affected areas included several sectors of the Poonch district: Balakote, Mendhar, Mankote, Krishna Ghati, Gulpur, Kerni, and even the vicinity of the district's administrative headquarters. Dozens of homes, vehicles, and civilian infrastructure suffered significant damage.
According to reports, in the early hours of Wednesday, loud explosions were heard, accompanied by the sound of air raid sirens. The blasts shook buildings, shattered windows, and plunged the city of Poonch into darkness, while illumination flares lit up the night sky.
Los estallidos de los misiles pakistaníes provocaron graves daños materiales
Local authorities made announcements from mosque loudspeakers, urging citizens not to leave their homes. In the brief moments of calm, hundreds of people fled the area, either by vehicle or on foot, aiming to reach safety. Shops located at the town's exits were crowded with customers trying to stock up on basic supplies before taking shelter.
In response to the shelling, the Indian army returned fire, and skirmishes continued for hours. This recent escalation occurs in a context of increasing violence since the April 22 attack. Since then, clashes between the two nuclear powers have been almost daily.
Meanwhile, Pakistan acknowledged having launched retaliatory fire against Indian positions in Kashmir, arguing that their action was a response to India's airstrikes on their territory.
Meanwhile, India keeps that Pakistan's fire was unprovoked and deliberately targeted civilians. The Indian Ministry of Defense has reaffirmed its commitment to the safety of its citizens and has warned that it will respond firmly to any act of aggression.
Las autoridades de India remarcaron que los ataques de Pakistán fueron dirigidos específicamente contra civiles
