Terror plot foiled in Poonch; IEDs found in tiffin boxes amid India-Pak tensions
PTC Web Desk: Security forces successfully uncovered a terrorist hideout in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, thwarting a potential terror plot amid heightened tensions following the recent Pahalgam Terror Attack that claimed 26 civilian lives.
The joint operation, conducted by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police in the Surankot area of Poonch on Sunday evening, led to the recovery of five explosive devices, two wireless communication sets, and three blankets from the hideout. The discovery triggered a search operation across the region to trace any possible terrorist presence.
Poonch and neighboring Rajouri district have remained flashpoints for terrorist activity over the years, witnessing repeated attacks and encounters.
In a concerning development shortly after the operation, the Pakistan army opened fire across multiple sectors along the Line of Control (LoC) during the night of May 4-5. Areas affected included Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri, Mendhar, Naushera, Sunderbani, and Akhnoor.
“The Pakistan army resorted to unprovoked small arms fire across the LoC. The Indian Army responded promptly and in a proportionate manner,” said an official statement by the Indian Army. This marks the 11th consecutive day of ceasefire violations by Pakistan, further escalating the security situation in the region.
The discovery of the hideout comes in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam massacre—deemed the deadliest terror incident in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370. Following the attack, Indian intelligence agencies found links to a Pakistan-based terrorist group, prompting New Delhi to directly blame Islamabad for orchestrating the violence.
Pakistan, however, denied any involvement and called for an international and neutral investigation, which India rejected outright.
In response to the attack and continuing hostilities, the Indian government took several hardline measures, including cancelling all visas issued to Pakistani nationals and ordering those residing in India to depart immediately. Furthermore, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty—a key water-sharing agreement signed between the two nations in 1960. Diplomatic ties were also downgraded on both sides, reflecting a sharp deterioration in bilateral relations.
Security forces continue to remain on high alert across Jammu and Kashmir as intelligence inputs suggest a sustained threat of cross-border terrorism.
- With inputs from agencies
