Terrorists Attack Army Vehicles in J&K’s Poonch Again, Soldiers Retaliate

Poonch: Terrorists targeted Army vehicles in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch region on Friday evening, leading to an exchange of fire with the soldiers on duty. Fortunately, there are no reported injuries or casualties at this time. This marks the second terrorist attack on the Army in the area within the past few weeks, following an ambush in Rajouri’s Dera Ki Gali that resulted in four soldiers losing their lives and five others sustaining injuries.

The attack in Poonch’s Khanetar district occurred approximately 40 km away from the previous incident. Two rounds were fired from a nearby hilltop, causing damage to a senior officer’s vehicle. Notably, the Pir Panjal region, comprising Rajouri and Poonch, had been relatively free from terrorism since 2003. However, significant attacks have resurged since October 2021.

Over the past seven months, 20 soldiers, including officers and commandos, have lost their lives in these areas. In the last two years alone, more than 35 soldiers have been killed in action. Addressing the situation, Army Chief General Manoj Pande expressed concern about the increasing terrorism in Rajouri and Poonch. He attributed this resurgence to the active role of India’s adversaries, likely referring to Pakistan, in supporting terrorists in the region.

General Pande highlighted that the period of peace in the area from 2003 to 2017/18 has been disrupted due to the normalization of the situation in the Valley, leading to heightened activity by adversaries. The ongoing developments underscore the challenges faced by security forces in maintaining stability in the region.