By | Spotlight Defence Correspondent
Srinagar: In a decisive response to unprovoked ceasefire violations, the Indian Army carried out targeted retaliatory strikes on Pakistani military positions in the Leepa Valley of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) during the intervening night of May 9 and 10.
Spotlight has learnt through defense sources that the action was launched after Pakistani troops opened fire on Indian forward posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC), marking yet another serious escalation in the volatile region.
According to these sources, the Indian Army employed heavy artillery and mortar fire to conduct precision strikes on enemy bunkers, supply routes, and observation posts. The retaliation, described as “firm and calibrated,” was carefully designed to avoid civilian casualties on the other side while delivering a powerful blow to the infrastructure used by the Pakistani military to support cross-border aggression and infiltration.
The areas targeted in the Leepa Valley—specifically Shaheed Masjid, Ghekot, Mandal, and Katha—are known hubs for forward military posts and launchpads used by Pakistan for facilitating militant activity. Spotlight has also learnt that the initial ceasefire violations originated from positions in Shaheed Masjid, Reshian Galli, and Brith Wali Gali, all frequently cited in intelligence reports for harboring sniper nests and infiltration routes.
Local sources and intelligence inputs suggest that the Indian Army’s retaliatory action caused significant damage to Pakistani military assets. While an official statement on the extent of destruction is yet to be released, initial assessments point toward the neutralization of multiple hostile positions and a disruption of logistical supply chains used to sustain operations along the LoC.
This latest exchange follows a string of provocations by Pakistani forces, including targeted sniper fire and attempts to push armed militants across the LoC under the cover of darkness. The Indian Army has reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy toward cross-border terrorism and reiterated that any aggression will be met with an appropriate and forceful response.
A defence source, while speaking to Spotlight, emphasized that the Indian Army remains committed to maintaining peace, but not at the cost of national security. “Our forces are fully prepared to respond to any provocation. We will continue to act in defense of our sovereignty and the safety of our civilians,” he said.
Tensions continue to simmer along the LoC as both sides remain on high alert. The situation is being closely monitored by security agencies, with the possibility of further escalation not being ruled out.
