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Sinar Daily
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Sinar Daily
India says its missiles hit sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir
The Indian army, in a video posted on its X account, said "justice is served," with New Delhi adding that its actions "have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature". 07 May 2025 08:35am People gather after evacuating their houses as they stand along a street in Muridke, about 30kms from Lahore on May 7, 2025. (Photo by Murtaz Ali / AFP) Paramilitary soldiers arrive at the Government Health and Educational Complex in Muridke, about 30kms from Lahore on May 7, 2025. (Photo by Murtaz Ali / AFP) A flare goes up in air over the hill near main town of Poonch district, on May 7, 2025. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP) POONCH - India said Wednesday it carried out "precision strikes at terrorist camps" inside Pakistan and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir, days after it blamed Islamabad for a deadly attack on the Indian side of the contested region. The long-simmering conflict between the neighbouring nuclear powers intensified dramatically overnight. Fighter jets roared through the skies over the Himalayan territory early Wednesday and the sounds of explosions could be heard near the so-called Line of Control. "A little while ago, the Indian Armed Forces launched 'OPERATION SINDOOR', hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed," the government said in a statement. The Indian army, in a video posted on its X account, said "justice is served," with New Delhi adding that its actions "have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature". "No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted," it added. "India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution". Loud explosions were heard in the town of Poonch, only about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the dividing line, as New Delhi accused Pakistan of firing shells across the Line of Control. Indian fighter jets could be heard flying over Srinagar, the capital of Indian-administered Kashmir, while explosions were heard in Wuyan, a few kilometers (miles) from Srinagar's military headquarters. "Pakistan again violates the Ceasefire Agreement by firing Artillery in Bhimber Gali in Poonch - Rajauri area," on the Indian side, the Indian army said in a post on X. The army "is responding appropriately in a calibrated manner," it added. The bilateral ties between the two countries plummeted after gunmen killed 26 mainly Hindu civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir last month. Cross-border exchanges of fire started two days after that attack at a small meadow near Pahalgam in Indian-controlled part of the territory. New Delhi accused its arch-rival of backing the attackers, a charge rejected by Islamabad. The nuclear-armed neighbours have exchanged nightly gunfire since April 24 along the de facto border in Kashmir. The two sides also announced sweeping tit-for-tat punitive diplomatic sanctions -- including cancelling visas for each other's citizens. The South Asian rivals have fought two wars and numerous skirmishes over control of the Himalayan territory of Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday warned that water from India flowing into neighbouring countries including Pakistan will be stopped, days after suspending a key water treaty with Islamabad. - AFP More Like This
Hindustan Times
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Proximity to LoC makes Poonch town vulnerable: Lt Gen (retd) Sharma
As Pakistan continues to pound villages and towns close to the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, Poonch is among the worst-hit areas, accounting for 12 casualties and over 40 of the injured. Smoke billows after an artillery shell landed in the main town of Poonch district in India's Jammu region on May 7, 2025. At least eight Indians were killed and 29 others wounded Wednesday in the town of Poonch in Kashmir, close to the de facto border with Pakistan, a local Indian government official said. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP) (AFP) According to Lieutenant General (retired) Rakesh Sharma, who served five stints in Jammu and Kashmir, Poonch town's proximity to the LoC makes it vulnerable to cross-border shelling and artillery fire. 'They are using artillery fire because it is well within their range,' he said, adding: 'Poonch is being targeted by Pakistan because of its proximity to the LoC. It is a soft target. There may be an attempt to trigger migration of population from Poonch.' He points out the strategic importance the Hajipir Pass, a mountain route currently located in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) could have served at this time, had to not been handed over to Pakistan by erstwhile government, terming the move a 'blunder'. The Hajipir Pass connects Uri with Poonch, south of Pir Panjal range. India gave the pass to Pakistan following Tashkent Declaration in January 1966. India had captured it during the 1965 India-Pakistan war. The former general said, 'Had India not given strategic pass back to Pakistan, the situation would have been different. Had it been with us, PoK would have been in our direct range. Now, the pass is being used for pushing terrorists.' Defence minister Rajnath Singh on January 14 had blamed the previous governments for Pak-sponsored terrorism at an ex-servicemen's rally in Akhnoor. 'Panic taking over, people fleeing city' According to people living close to Poonch town, people have started fleeing the city as panic has set in amid the intensified cross-border shelling and civilian casualties. Ex-sarpanch of Islamabad village, located on the LoC in Poonch, Bagh Hussain Rathore said, 'There is panic among people, and they are fleeing Poonch city. The town is almost vacant. Only 5% to 7% of the population is left.' Rathore said that intense shelling has damaged their houses and killed the cattle. 'Bunkers were not constructed in adequate numbers. The people are forced to take shelter in their rooms. The district administration is doing everything possible but continuous shelling has hampered rescue and relief efforts,' he said. He said Pakistani troops are targeting the national highway from Poonch to Kalai, a seven-km stretch. 'They are also targeting Sher-e Kashmir bridge that connects Poonch town with Surankote,' he added.
Daily Express
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
India says its missiles hit sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir
Published on: Wednesday, May 07, 2025 Published on: Wed, May 07, 2025 By: AFP Text Size: A flare goes up in air over the hill near main town of Poonch district, on May 7, 2025. India said on May 7 it carried out 'precision strikes at terrorist camps' inside Pakistan and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir, days after it blamed Islamabad for a deadly attack on the Indian side of the contested region. - Punit PARANJPE / AFP POONCH: India said Wednesday it carried out 'precision strikes at terrorist camps' inside Pakistan and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir, days after it blamed Islamabad for a deadly attack on the Indian side of the contested region. The long-simmering conflict between the neighboring nuclear powers intensified dramatically overnight. Fighter jets roared through the skies over the Himalayan territory early Wednesday and the sounds of explosions could be heard near the so-called Line of Control. 'A little while ago, the Indian Armed Forces launched 'OPERATION SINDOOR', hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed,' the government said in a statement. The Indian army, in a video posted on its X account, said 'justice is served,' with New Delhi adding that its actions 'have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature'. 'No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted,' it added. 'India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution'. Loud explosions were heard in the town of Poonch, only about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the dividing line, as New Delhi accused Pakistan of firing shells across the Line of Control. Indian fighter jets could be heard flying over Srinagar, the capital of Indian-administered Kashmir, while explosions were heard in Wuyan, a few kilometers (miles) from Srinagar's military headquarters. 'Pakistan again violates the Ceasefire Agreement by firing Artillery in Bhimber Gali in Poonch - Rajauri area,' on the Indian side, the Indian army said in a post on X. The army 'is responding appropriately in a calibrated manner,' it added. The bilateral ties between the two countries plummeted after gunmen killed 26 mainly Hindu civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir last month. Cross-border exchanges of fire started two days after that attack at a small meadow near Pahalgam in Indian-controlled part of the territory. New Delhi accused its arch-rival of backing the attackers, a charge rejected by Islamabad. The nuclear-armed neighbours have exchanged nightly gunfire since April 24 along the de facto border in Kashmir. The two sides also announced sweeping tit-for-tat punitive diplomatic sanctions -- including cancelling visas for each other's citizens. The South Asian rivals have fought two wars and numerous skirmishes over control of the Himalayan territory of Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday warned that water from India flowing into neighbouring countries including Pakistan will be stopped, days after suspending a key water treaty with Islamabad. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
