'Evacuate': Pakistan warns India's villages over loudspeakers before opening fire
Residents of border villages in Uri sector of Baramulla, J&K, woke up yesterday to warnings over loudspeakers about cross-border shelling. The Pakistani Army was asking "villagers of 'maqbooza Kashmir' (India-controlled Kashmir) to shift to safer places to escape response to Indian firing." A day earlier, Islamabad had taken envoys of six countries to the LoC to "prove" damage caused by Indian shelling.
About 500 villagers evacuated to safer places
Silkote and Churanda, only 2,000ft away from the LoC, were the worst affected villages, but others including Balkote, Thajal, Tillawari and Hathlanga suffered heavy damage too. Evacuation began in the morning as authorities rushed government vehicles, even ambulances, to the area. About 500 residents were shifted to safer locations, DGP SP Vaid tweeted. Several houses were completely destroyed in the subsequent cross-border shelling.
DGP SP Vaid tweets about the operations
Pakistan takes envoys to border to show "Indian shelling" damage
A day earlier, Pakistan had taken the US, UK, China, France, Indonesia and Turkey envoys to Rawalakot sector near the LoC to provide them "first-hand knowledge" about "incessant ceasefire violations by Indian troops." ISPR said they were briefed about "Indian atrocities, including targeting of civilians," and the relief Pakistan was providing to victims. It is being seen as an attempt to draw international attention.
