"War is never fair": JK CM Omar Abdullah visits Poonch, offers condolences to shelling victims

India Gazette

12-05-2025

Poonch (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 12 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the families affected by the cross-border shelling in Poonch on Monday and offered condolences.
Abdullah emphasized the need for sympathy towards the affected families, stating, 'Nobody has made any demands or said anything. This has been a tragic time for them, for their families, and it is our duty as individuals more than anything else to try and sympathize with them at this time of need. War is never fair.'
He offered his condolences and sympathy to those affected, offering support from his administration.
'Look, they're all enveloped in their grief so I am here only to offer my condolences and my sympathy and the support of my administration,' Abdullah said.
Earlier on Monday, CM Abdullah on Monday visited a government hospital in Poonch to meet civilians injured in the recent cross-border shelling.
Abdullah interacted with several individuals who had sustained injuries during the heavy shelling by Pakistan over the past few days. He enquired about their health and assured them of the administration's support.
Abdullah also visited the families of civilians who lost their lives in the firing. Among them was the family of Amrik Singh, who died in the shelling incident.
He also paid a visit to the home of Amarjeet Singh, another civilian casualty of the recent hostilities.
On Saturday, India said that Pakistan violated the understanding reached between DGMOs of the two countries earlier in the day on the stoppage of firing and military action and that the Indian Army is retaliating and dealing with the border intrusions.
At a special briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri called it a breach of the understanding arrived at earlier on Saturday and said that India takes 'very serious note of these violations'.
India called upon Pakistan to take appropriate steps to address these violations and deal with the situation with seriousness and responsibility.
'For the last few hours, there have been repeated violations of the understanding arrived at earlier this evening between the Directors General of Military Operations of India and Pakistan. This is a breach of the understanding arrived at earlier today. The armed forces are giving an adequate and appropriate response to these violations, and we take very, very serious note of these violations,' Misri said.
Hours after it agreed to stop all firing and military action on land, in the air and sea, Pakistan violated the cessation of hostilities with India's air defence intercepting Pakistani drones amid a blackout in Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir).
Civilian areas in Jammu's Rajouri district suffered damage due to shelling by Pakistan. A series of explosions damaged several houses and properties across the region, triggering panic among residents. According to locals, smoke rose after loud explosions were reported in Rajouri. (ANI)