Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, July 18

Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged gunfire along the Line of Control (LoC) in J&K for a third consecutive day on Saturday, raising tensions in the Rajouri-Poonch sector as residents in border villages voiced concern over the renewed hostilities.

The latest exchange took place at multiple forward positions in the Pir Panjal region after intermittent firing over the previous two days, according to official sources. The incidents mark a fresh bout of cross-border tension along one of the most sensitive stretches of the de facto frontier separating the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

The first exchange was reported late on Thursday in the forested Tarkundi area along the Rajouri-Poonch boundary. Firing resumed on Friday evening in the Tarkundi and Balakote sectors, where troops on both sides used small arms and machine guns in an exchange that continued for more than two-and-a-half hours into Saturday, the sources said.

Fresh firing erupted again on Saturday afternoon, with troops stationed at forward posts exchanging gunfire for a considerable period, further heightening tensions in the area. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

The repeated exchanges have heightened anxiety among residents living close to the LoC, many of whom fear a further escalation if the firing continues. Cross-border ceasefire violations have declined significantly since India and Pakistan reaffirmed a ceasefire understanding in 2021, although sporadic exchanges of fire continue to occur along parts of the frontier.