Watch: Indian Army targets Pakistan military administrative HQ in retaliation to shelling

In a strong retaliation to the shelling in Poonch and Jhallas on October 23, the Indian Army on Monday targeted Pakistan’s military administrative headquarters across the Line of Control, security officials said. The Army retaliated in the Khuiratta and Samani areas of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), they said. 

"In response to Pakistani army's firing of stray shells on Poonch and Jhallas on October 23, 2018, the Indian Army has sent a strong signal by firing at Pakistani army administrative headquarters... and the residents of border villages also reported that they could see smoke emanating," the officials said. 

#WATCH: Pakistan army administrative HQ targeted along LoC near Poonch by Indian Army in retaliation to Pakistan’s mortar shelling of Poonch and Jhallas on October 23 pic.twitter.com/o0C6UJQqcr

— ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2018

News agency PTI reported that Pakistani troops fired rocket-propelled grenades and small arms at around 10:35 hours during ceasefire violation.

“One round landed on a barrel type store shelter in Poonch causing it to catch fire," defence spokesperson Lt Colonel Devender Anand said.

Following the shelling in Poonch, the Indian Army has in its "strong signal" to Pakistan, fired on its army administrative headquarters in PoK, they said.

Pakistan army administrative HQ targeted along LoC near Poonch by Indian Army in retaliation to Pakistan’s mortar shelling of Poonch and Jhallas on October 23 pic.twitter.com/BGxda5dhWd

— ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2018

The officials claimed that several photographs "stood testimony" to the reports of border villagers that they had seen smoke emanating from the Pakistani headquarters after the Indian military's retaliatory action. According to them, the Indian Army has exercised maximum restraint, despite continuous provocation by the Pakistani army. 

However, the army has avoided targeting civilian population living in the close proximity of the Line of Control (LoC) in PoK areas such as Hajira, Bandi Gopalpur, Nikial, Samani and Khuiratta, the officials said.

"Deprivation and penury of locals of PoK suits the Pakistan army that while ensconced in the safety of their posts, use these unwitting and brainwashed youths as cannon fodder for actions along the LoC, a cowardly and unprofessional modus operandi for any self-respecting army," the officials said.

"These acts of the Pakistan army are accentuated by their propensity in refusing to acknowledge and accept the dead bodies of their soldiers as also of terrorists, each time the terrorists are neutralised in operations along the LoC or the hinterland," they said.

(With agency inputs)