**Title:** Pakistan’s Artillery Shelling Targets Schools and Places of Worship
**Meta Description:** Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri condemns Pakistan’s artillery shelling on schools and religious sites, marking a new low in cross-border aggression.
**URL Slug:** pakistan-artillery-shelling-schools-worship
**Headline:** Pakistan’s Unprovoked Artillery Shelling Hits Schools and Religious Sites, Condemned by Indian Officials
In a recent escalation of cross-border tensions, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri condemned Pakistan for its unprovoked artillery shelling that targeted schools and places of worship on the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC). Misri described this act of aggression as a “new low even for Pakistan,” highlighting the severity of the situation.
On May 7, 2025, heavy shelling from Pakistan struck various civilian areas in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly affecting the Poonch district. Misri specifically referenced an incident where a shell landed near the Christ School, tragically resulting in the deaths of two students and injuries to their parents. The shelling also caused significant damage to homes and disrupted the lives of many residents in the region.
During the attack, several school staff members and local residents sought refuge in an underground hall of the school, which had been closed for safety reasons. Misri emphasized that had the school been open, the casualties could have been much higher.
The artillery barrage not only impacted Poonch but also affected the Rajouri and Tangdhar sectors, leading to the deaths of at least 15 individuals and injuring 43 others. The violence escalated shortly after Indian armed forces conducted missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, a response to a previous terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives.
In a related incident, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal condemned the attack on a gurdwara during the cross-border shelling, which resulted in the deaths of three Sikhs. Despite the violence, local community members came together to reopen the Sikh place of worship just a day after it was damaged.
The ongoing conflict and shelling underscore the fragile security situation along the LoC, raising concerns about the safety of civilians in the region. As tensions continue to rise, the international community watches closely, hoping for a resolution to the ongoing hostilities.
**FAQ Section:**
**Q: What prompted the recent artillery shelling from Pakistan?**
A: The shelling followed Indian missile strikes on terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, which were a response to a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam.
