Early on Saturday, a furious shootout broke out in the Trehgam area of Kupwara district, North Kashmir. This was a significant event as two Indian Army personnel were injured and a Pakistani terrorist was killed in the confrontation. The conflict happened on the Line of Control (LoC) at a forward position in Kamkari, Macchal Sector.
The Indian Army verified the event in a statement, saying, “There has been an exchange of fire with unidentified personnel on a forward post in Kamkari, Macchal Sector on the Line of Control.” A Pakistani citizen was killed and two of our soldiers had to be air-lifted due to injuries they sustained during the skirmish.
Reinforcements were sent to the area as support for an operation that had been going on since early morning. Meanwhile, sources claimed the scuffle began when soldiers saw some movements near LoC that looked suspicious thereby forcing Indian troops into quick, strategic action.
This encounter is part of a worrying trend of increased infiltration attempts by terrorists supported by the Pakistan Army. These efforts to breach the LoC have seen a notable uptick in recent weeks. On July 18, two terrorists were neutralized by the Indian Army during an infiltration bid in the Keran sector of Kupwara. Similarly, another infiltration attempt in the Battal sector of Krishna Ghati area in Poonch district on July 24 resulted in the deaths of one terrorist and an Indian Army soldier.
The exact motive behind Saturday’s firing exchange remains unclear, with officials still working to determine whether it was an infiltration bid or another type of assault initiated by terrorists operating from across the LoC. The backdrop of these incidents involves a series of aggressive ambush attacks carried out by militants in the hilly districts of the Jammu division over the past two months.
Intelligence reports have suggested the presence of a hardcore group of 40-50 foreign mercenaries in these hilly and mountainous regions, fueling fears of escalated violence. In response to these threats, the Indian Army has significantly bolstered its presence in the area. Over 4,000 highly-trained Para-Commandos and mountain warfare specialists have been deployed across key districts including Poonch, Doda, Rajouri, Kathua, Reasi, Ramban, and Udhampur.
The Chief of Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, recently went to the advanced positions in Kupwara to personally assess the security situation. He thanked the soldiers for their professionalism and asked them to keep their guard up against new security threats. Despite these ongoing threats from across the border, the Indian Army is taking strong steps to protect peace and stability in the area.
As the operation moves on, further developments are anticipated, and the situation is still tight. The Indian Army is still keeping a careful eye on the Line of Control to ensure that any future incursions or terrorist actions are dealt with quickly.
