The UN Security Council will hold closed consultations Monday on the situation between India and Pakistan after Islamabad sought an emergency meeting on the issue.
Indian officials have confirmed that the Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing in eight forward sectors along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, violating ceasefire agreements and prompting retaliation from Indian troops marking the 11th consecutive night of such firings.
Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A P Singh on Sunday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is understood to have discussed the security situation arising out of the rising tensions between India and Pakistan over the deadly Pahalgam terror attack.
A 30-minute blackout rehearsal was conducted at the Ferozepur Cantonment area in Punjab on Sunday evening amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan.
The Pahalgam terror attack left at least 26 civilians, mostly tourists, dead on April 22 at a popular tourist site, Baisaran meadow in Anantnag district.
Pakistani Troops Resorting To Unprovoked Firing For 11 Consecutive Days
Pakistani troops yet again resorted to unprovoked firing in eight forward sectors along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, violating ceasefire agreements and prompting retaliation from Indian troops, officials confirmed on Monday.
This marks the 11th consecutive night of Pakistan's unprovoked firing along the LoC, amidst heightened tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad following the killing of 26 people in the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.
A defence spokesperson in Jammu told PTI, “During the night of May 4 and 5, Pakistan Army posts resorted to unprovoked small arms fire across the LoC in areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri, Mendhar, Naushera, Sunderbani, and Akhnoor in J-K."
“The Indian Army responded promptly and proportionately,” he added.
The overnight firing was initiated by Pakistani troops across five border districts -- Jammu, Rajouri, and Poonch in the south of the Pir Panjal ranges in the Jammu region, and Baramulla and Kupwara districts in the Kashmir valley.
Initially beginning with unprovoked small arms firing at several posts along the LoC in Kupwara and Baramulla districts of north Kashmir, Pakistan swiftly expanded its ceasefire violations to the Poonch sector and subsequently to the Akhnoor sector of the Jammu region.
UNSC To Hold Closed Consultations On Indo-Pak Situation Today
The UN Security Council will hold closed consultations Monday on the situation between India and Pakistan after Islamabad sought an emergency meeting on the issue.
Pakistan currently sits as a non-permanent member of the powerful 15-nation Security Council, which is being presided over by Greece for the month of May.
Islamabad "requested closed consultations" on the tensions between the two countries and the Greek Presidency has scheduled the meeting for May 5 in the afternoon.
Apart from the five veto-wielding permanent members -- China, France, Russia, UK and the US -- the 10 non-permanent members in the Council are Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Somalia.
Amid rising tensions between the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbors following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of May Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris had reportedly said that if a request comes for a meeting to discuss the situation between India and Pakistan, “then… I think this meeting should take place because, as we said, maybe it's also an opportunity to have views expressed and this might help to diffuse a bit of tension.”
In the weeks following the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in which 26 civilians were killed, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke with all Council members, with the exception of China and Pakistan.
In his calls, Jaishankar underlined that “its perpetrators, backers and planners must be brought to justice.” Jaishankar had a “good conversation” with Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and had “discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack.” India had welcomed Greece라이브 바카라 firm opposition to cross-border terrorism and “our Strategic Partnership reflects the depth of our ties,” Jaishankar had said.
He also spoke with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, French Foreign Minster Jean-Noël Barrot, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone Timothy Musa Kabba, Algeria라이브 바카라 Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Attaf, Foreign Minister Hugh Hilton Todd of Guyana, Slovenia Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon, Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali of Somalia and Panama Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez.
Air-Chief AP Singh Meets PM Modi
The details of the Air Chief and PM Modi meeting has not be revealed yet. But it is assumed that A P Singh briefed the prime minister on the security situation amid the tensions between the two countries.
The Indian Express cited sources that said, "the Navy is well-positioned to act on any possible option as soon as the executive orders are given."
Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi met the prime minister on May 3 at his Lok Kalyan Marg residence and notified him with the overall situation in the critical sea lanes in the Arabian Sea.
In a high-level meeting with the top defence brass, Prime Minister Modi on last Tuesday gave the armed forces "complete operational freedom" to decide on the mode, targets and timing of the response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
PM Modi also emphasised the national resolve to deal a "crushing blow to terrorism".
30-Minute Blackout Drill In Punjab
A 30-minute blackout rehearsal was conducted at the Ferozepur Cantonment area in Punjab on Sunday evening amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.
Officials told PTI that the blackout drill was carried at the border town out from 9 pm to 9:30 pm and al lights were turned off in the area after a siren went off at 9 pm.
The Ferozepur Cantonment Board wrote to Deputy Commissioner Deepshikha Sharma about carrying out the blackout drill.
"You are requested to ensure adequate security arrangements during this period, given the total blackout. This rehearsal aims to ensure preparedness and effectiveness in implementing blackout procedures during prevailing war threats. Your support and cooperation are crucial in making this exercise successful," the letter said.
According to PTI, Sharma said in a statement that the blackout was part of a routine preparedness exercise.
The Border Security Force (BSF) has intensified patrolling along the international border while Punjab Police has set up checkpoints at all strategic locations as a precautionary measure.
Pakistani Envoy To Russia Warns Of Potential 'Nuclear' Response As Tensions With India Flare
As the tensions between India and Pakistan continue to flare, Pakistan's ambassador to Russia has warned of a potential "nuclear" response if the Indian military decides to strike Islamabad. The Pakistani envoy added that this response may also take place in case India "disrupts" Pakistan's water supply.
Speaking to Russian broadcaster RT, Muhammad Khalid Jamali, Pakistan's top diplomat in Moscow, alleged of having "credible intelligence" suggesting that an attack by India is imminent.
"There are some other leaked documents whereby it has been decided to strike certain areas of Pakistan," Mr Jamali said. "So that makes us feel that this is going to happen and it's imminent."
He added that if such a scenario does play out, Pakistan "will use the full spectrum of power, both conventional and nuclear."
