First LoC Ceasefire Violation Since Operation Sindoor Truce — Pakistan Army Fires on Rajouri Posts

Around 10:00 PM on July 17, 2026, small-arms firing erupted in the Tarkundi forest sector of Rajouri district along the Line of Control, escalating over three days (July 17-19) into the first major cross-border firing incident reported since the May 10, 2025 Operation Sindoor ceasefire. Pakistan Army 'unprovoked' fire on forward Indian posts continued for over an hour on July 19; unconfirmed reports suggested Pakistani posts provided cover fire for a heavily armed group of infiltrators attempting to cross into Indian territory. Indian troops of the Nagrota-based White Knight Corps detected suspicious movement and retaliated; no casualties were reported. Fresh exchanges of heavy gunfire, including small arms and machine guns lasting over two-and-a-half hours, followed in the Rajouri-Poonch (Pir Panjal) sector on July 18-19, with Pakistan separately violating the ceasefire in the Balakote sector of Poonch district. Field commanders were directed to maintain high alert and search operations were launched to prevent infiltration. The incident ends 435 days of LoC calm since the ceasefire took effect.