Indian Army retaliates to shelling in Poonch; targets Pakistan military headquarters in PoK

Soon after the firing from the Indian side took place residents in the neighbouring villages of Poonch witnessed smoke emanating from the site, agencies reported.

Image: ANI

New Delhi: Indian Army on Monday targeted the administrative headquarters of Pakistan army across the Line of Control in retaliation to the firing of mortar shells that took place in Poonch and Jhallas in Jammu and Kashmir,  on October 23. As per security officials, the army retaliated in Khuiratta and Samani areas of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).  Soon after the firing from the Indian side took place residents in the neighbouring villages of Poonch witnessed smoke emanating from the site, agencies reported. Several pictures and videos from across the border surfaced soon after the Indian army’s attacks which stood testimony to the reports. India’s military retaliation comes after Pakistan’s October 23 attacks, when it had shelled the brigade headquarters and other Indian military formations in Poonch. "In response to Pakistani army's firing of stray shells on Poonch and Jhallas on October 23, 2018, the Indian Army has sent a strong signal by firing at Pakistani army administrative headquarters... and the residents of border villages also reported that they could see smoke emanating," PTI quoted security officials as saying.

#WATCH: Pakistan army administrative HQ targeted along LoC near Poonch by Indian Army in retaliation to Pakistan’s mortar shelling of Poonch and Jhallas on October 23 pic.twitter.com/o0C6UJQqcr

— ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2018

The officials described the attack as a “strong signal” to Pakistan. India’s attack comes two years after the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes in September 2016 at terrorist launch pads in response to the strikes in Uri and Nagrota sectors of Jammu and Kashmir. Following the surgical strike, the pressure on the Pakistan army was kept through “proactive and precise targeting” by the Indian Army. (with inputs from agencies)