Four men were killed on Monday when a landmine exploded in Hajira tehsil of Poonch district, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The incident occurred near the Line of Control (LoC), according to the Directorate General of Public Relations (DGPR). Initial reports said the men died at the scene.
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The DGPR stated that the victims were repairing a pipeline carrying spring water when the explosion occurred. According to the initial account, the landmine had drifted into the area from the Indian side. Officials did not provide further details about the circumstances surrounding the blast.
The DGPR warned that unexploded landmines pose an ongoing danger to civilians and livestock near the LoC. Unclear border demarcation in some areas adds to the risks, the statement said. Such explosive devices can threaten people carrying out routine activities near the border.
Poonch Divisional Commissioner Sardar Waheed Khan separately told Dawn that Indian Army personnel had planted the landmine. However, the report did not provide independent confirmation of this allegation. The incident has renewed concerns about civilian safety in communities living near the disputed border.
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Former AJK prime minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi expressed grief over the deaths and offered condolences to the victims’ families. He blamed continued casualties on the unresolved Kashmir dispute and accused India of endangering Kashmiris through explosive devices and shootings. His remarks reflected his position on the wider conflict, while authorities had released limited details about Monday’s incident.