A fresh incident of firing was reported along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Mankote sector of Poonch late Tuesday evening. Alert Indian troops also responded to ‘unprovoked’ firing to prevent any infiltration bid amid inclement weather conditions in the area.
According to ground reports, the Pakistan army resorted to ‘unprovoked’ small arms firing for about 15 to 20 minutes in the forward areas of the Mankote sector of Poonch on Tuesday evening.
The fire was swiftly responded to by the Indian troops in equal measure to prevent any infiltration bid.
This is the first incident of cross-LoC firing in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. Senior army officers have been closely monitoring the situation. The troops in the area have been maintaining a tight vigil after Operation Shiv Shakti was launched to neutralise two heavily armed infiltrators on July 30.
Meanwhile, the ongoing anti-terrorist operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district continued for the fifth consecutive day, with security forces intensifying efforts to neutralise remaining terrorists in the Akhal area of South Kashmir.
The operation, which began on Friday, August 1, 2025, following intelligence inputs about terrorist presence, continues to see intermittent exchanges of gunfire as security forces maintain a tight cordon around the forested terrain.
According to officials, two terrorists have been killed so far, with their identities and group affiliations still under investigation.
At least two security personnel have sustained injuries during the prolonged encounter. The security forces have employed advanced technology, including drones, helicopters, and thermal imaging devices, to track down the terrorists believed to be hiding in the dense forest. On Tuesday, August 5, authorities evacuated several villagers from the Akhal area who required medical attention, ensuring their safety amid the ongoing conflict. The cordon was further strengthened with additional reinforcements, and senior officials, including Chinar Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Prashant Srivastava and Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, have been closely monitoring the operation, with visits to the site to assess progress.
“The operation is challenging due to the dense forest and terrain, but our forces are using every available resource to ensure no terrorist escapes,” an official stated, emphasising the use of aerial surveillance to detect movements.