Pakistan’s Artillery Onslaught targets Sikhs and the Gurdwara

In spring 2025, a dangerous conflict flared up along the border between Pakistan and India 

in the Jammu & Kashmir region, a disputed area known as the Line of Control (LoC). This violence, which shattered a 2021 peace agreement, began after a deadly terrorist attack on April 22, 2025, in Pahalgam, India, where 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists, were killed. India blamed Pakistan for supporting the attackers, a group called the Resistance Front (TRF), tied to the terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). What followed was a series of aggressive attacks by Pakistan’s military that targeted Indian villages, schools, and religious sites, causing widespread fear and loss of life. Here’s what Americans need to know about this escalating crisis.

A Rapid Escalation of Violence

 Starting April 24, Pakistan’s army began firing across the LoC, first with rifles and then with heavy weapons like 105 mm cannons and 120 mm mortars. These attacks hit multiple areas, including Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri, Naushera, Sunderbani, and Akhnoor. By May 7, the firing became a nightly event, growing more intense each day. These firings were no accident—it broke a 2021 ceasefire deal meant to keep peace. The attacks peaked after India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, a military strike targeting nine LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Pakistan’s response seemed aimed at protecting these groups or distracting from India’s operation.

Poonch: A Community Under Fire 

The hardest-hit area was Poonch, a district in Jammu & Kashmir. On May 7, Pakistan’s shelling killed 12 civilians, including four children, and injured about 57 others in villages like Balakote, Mendhar, and Poonch town. Homes, a bus station, and schools were destroyed, making this the deadliest attack in the region since 2019. The victims came from different backgrounds—Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs—showing how these attacks didn’t care who they hurt. Entire villages fled to safety, and schools closed as fear took over.

Targeting a Sacred Sikh Site 

One of the most shocking attacks happened on May 7, when Pakistan’s artillery hit the Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, a historic Sikh temple in Poonch built in the 1800s. The shelling killed three Sikh men—Amreek Singh, a singer of holy hymns; Amarjeet Singh, a former soldier; and Ranjit Singh, a shopkeeper—along with Ruby Kaur, a homemaker. The attack damaged the temple while people were praying, sending a message of terror to the Sikh community, which makes up just 2-3% of the region’s population. A mosque and a Christian school were also hit, suggesting Pakistan either aimed at these sacred places or didn’t care about avoiding them. These attacks against civilian targets violate international rules protecting cultural and religious sites, like the 1954 Hague Convention.

Why Is This Happening? 

Pakistan’s attacks seem tied to its long history of supporting groups like LeT, which carried out the Pahalgam attack. When India struck back with Operation Sindoor, Pakistan’s heavy shelling may have been a way to shield these terrorists or shift attention from their activities. This pattern—using military fire to protect extremists—has been seen before and raises serious concerns about Pakistan’s role in regional terrorism.

Breaking International Rules 

Pakistan’s actions break several global laws. Targeting civilians and religious sites violates the Geneva Conventions, which protect people during conflicts, and the 2021 ceasefire agreement. These attacks have left communities in chaos, with families displaced, schools shut, and people afraid to practice their faith. The destruction of places like the Gurdwara has sparked outrage, with Sikh leaders and Indian officials calling it an attack on human and religious rights.

What It Means 

This crisis isn’t just a local fight—it’s a warning about how state-supported terrorism and reckless military actions can harm innocent people. Pakistan’s shelling has killed over a dozen civilians, injured many more, and forced hundreds from their homes. The international community, including the U.S., needs to pay attention. India has responded with limited counterattacks, but the situation could worsen without global pressure to stop Pakistan’s violations. This is a story of real people—families, children, and worshippers—caught in a conflict that threatens peace in South Asia.