Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked small-arms firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir for the twelfth consecutive night, targeting Indian forward posts in eight sectors during the night of May 5–6. The affected sectors included Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri, Mendhar, Naushera, Sunderbani, and Akhnoor, spanning both the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu region. Defence officials stated that the Indian Army responded promptly and in a proportionate manner, ensuring a calibrated retaliation to the ceasefire violations.

This latest escalation comes amid heightened tensions following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which killed 26 people. Since then, cross-border firing has become a nightly occurrence, straining the February 2021 ceasefire agreement that had largely held until now. The renewed hostilities have affected five of Jammu and Kashmir’s seven border districts, with no reports of firing along the International Border in Samba and Kathua so far.

The initial firing began in the northern districts of Kupwara and Baramulla and quickly spread south to Poonch, Rajouri, and the Pargwal sector of Jammu. Pakistani troops further expanded their ceasefire violations to Sunderbani, Naushera, and Mendhar, targeting multiple Indian positions. The Indian Army’s response has been described as strong and measured, with officials emphasizing their commitment to safeguarding the border and civilian areas.

Diplomatic and military tensions have escalated further after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty on April 24, prompting Pakistan to block its airspace for Indian carriers, close the Wagah border, and suspend bilateral trade. The repeated violations along the 740-km LoC have rendered the ceasefire pact increasingly ineffective, with both sides issuing warnings and ramping up defensive measures along the border.