A ceasefire violation by the Pakistani Army was reported along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district Wednesday evening. According to initial reports, Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing, prompting the Indian Army to give a befitting response. There have been no immediate reports of casualties or damage on the Indian side.
The ceasefire violation comes about a month after Pakistan politician Anwaar ul-Haq called for a jihad against India. He announced that his government would mobilise all available resources to expel Indian forces from Jammu and Kashmir.
His remarks drew widespread condemnation, with critics decrying them as a serious threat to the prospect of peace between the two nations. Haq made this statement during a rally on January 5 in Muzaffarabad, marking Right to Self-Determination Day, which was further amplified by chants of “Al-Jihad, Al-Jihad,” signaling a significant escalation in Pakistan’s political discourse.
#UKPNP strongly condemns #AzadKashmir PM #ChaudhryAnwarUlHaq for inciting violence chanting Al Jihad. #Pakistan must end #extremism & its proxy war in #Kashmir. @FATFNews the @UN must take serious action.@StateDept @SwissMFA@francediplo @mfa_russia@IsraelMFA @MFA_China pic.twitter.com/ZexH2xROjH
— Sardar Nasir Aziz KHAN (@NasirKhanUKPNP) January 6, 2025
Jihad refers to Muslims’ efforts to follow the teachings of Islam, as well as to fight in defence of the religion or against perceived enemies of Islam.
India has consistently maintained that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country, and any attempts to disrupt peace in the region will be met with firm resolve.