Pahalgam terror attack: Rajnath meets PM Modi; Pakistan continues violation of ceasefire along the LoC

Ceasefire violations with small arms persisted for the fourth consecutive night even as Pakistan continued to re-deploy heavy equipment to the LoC

Amidst the continuing tense situation along the Line of Control (LoC), and expectations in some sections of possible punitive action by India in response to the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (April 28, 2025) in what is believed to be a review of security and preparedness.

Ceasefire violations with small arms persisted for the fourth consecutive night, even as Pakistan continued to re-deploy heavy equipment to the LoC. In another development, Pakistan has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), closing off some air traffic routes between Islamabad and Lahore from 11 a.m. UTC (coordinated universal time) on April 28 to 5 p.m. UTC on April 30, according to details put out by the open source intelligence handle Damien Simon on social media platform X.

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Over 25 rounds of small arms or heavy calibre weapons fired at one location is counted as one ceasefire violation.

During the night of April 27-28, Pakistan Army posts initiated unprovoked small arms fire across the LoC in areas opposite Kupwara and Poonch districts, the Army said on Monday, adding that Indian troops responded swiftly and effectively. This year, till the end of March, there were only two ceasefire violations. In the aftermath of the terror attack on April 22, the number has reached 14.

Guns had fallen silent after an understanding between the two countries in February 2021 on recommitment to previous ceasefire agreement. Between 2022 and 2024, there were just four ceasefire violations recorded, data show, compared with over 5,000 in 2020, just a year after the Balakot air strike. There were 600 ceasefire violations in 2021.

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said in Islamabad that his country’s forces had been “reinforced” as “it is something which is imminent now”. “So, in that situation, some strategic decisions have to be taken. So those decisions have been taken,” Mr. Asif told Reuters.

Defence systems received

Meanwhile, the Indian Army has taken delivery of the Saab AT4 anti-armour weapon system, and of the MBDA Starstreak very short range air defence systems (VSHORAD) in deals that were contracted sometime ago. Both systems are critical requirements, and arrive at a crucial time.

“We are proud to announce the successful delivery of our AT4 anti-armour weapon system to the Indian armed forces. Selected through a competitive evaluation, AT4 joins India’s arsenal as a trusted single-shot solution for short-range combat,” SAAB India posted on X on Monday.

The global defence and security company said India has procured the AT4CS AST variant, specifically designed for confined space operations, including use from within buildings, bunkers, and other urban environments. “This marks a milestone moment as the Indian armed forces, long-standing users of our Carl-Gustaf system, extend their trust to our AT4 weapon system as well,” SAAB stated.

The AT4CS is a lightweight, man-portable, fully disposable anti-tank weapon selected by the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force in 2022 via a competitive process. It weighs about nine kilogrammes and has an effective range of 200 metres. About 2,000 units were ordered, sources said.

A deal for Laser Beam Riding man-portable VSHORADs was announced at the Aero India aviation exhibition in February by Thales U.K. and Bharat Dynamics Limited, with an “initial supply” of Starstreak high velocity missiles and launchers concluded under the fourth tranche of emergency procurements concluded in 2023. The deal was for 16 launchers, 56 missiles, and one simulator worth just under ₹300 crore, and was slightly delayed. The initial deliveries of the missiles were completed earlier this month, officials confirmed.

Published - April 28, 2025 12:55 pm IST