MUZAFFARABAD (Dunya News) – Four young men were killed after a landmine believed to have drifted from the Indian side exploded near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), according to the region’s Directorate General of Public Relations (DGPR).
The explosion took place in Mehndla Madarpur village when the four youths went to repair a water pipeline connected to a nearby spring. The task was part of their daily routine, but the landmine detonated as they reached the site, killing all four on the spot, according to initial reports.
The victims were identified as Faizan Sagheer, Ishtiaq, Asim Rafiq and Waqas Sharif. Their deaths plunged the surrounding area into mourning, with residents expressing deep grief over the loss of the four young men.
According to security sources cited in local reports, the youths had travelled to the spring near Mehndla Madarpur to carry out repairs to the water supply pipeline when the explosion occurred.
The incident highlights the risks faced by residents living in villages close to the LoC, where difficult terrain and explosive devices can pose dangers to civilians going about their daily activities.
The DGPR warned that landmines drifting from the Indian side continued to threaten people and livestock in areas near the LoC. It cited the nature of the terrain, unclear border demarcation and the movement of landmines as factors contributing to the risks faced by local communities.
The explosion has renewed attention on the dangers posed by explosive devices in border areas, where residents may need to travel across open ground to access water sources and carry out routine household and agricultural activities.
The latest incident comes amid wider tensions along the Pakistan-India border. Earlier this month, two Pakistani civilians were killed in the Bedian Sector along the international border by personnel of India's Border Security Force (BSF), according to Pakistan's Foreign Office.
In a statement following that incident, the Foreign Office said BSF personnel had used lethal force against unarmed civilians, describing the action as unjustified and disproportionate. The incident resulted in the deaths of two Pakistani civilians, prompting Pakistan to lodge a formal protest with India.
Pakistan subsequently summoned India's Charge d'Affaires to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey its strong protest over the killings.
Landmines and other explosive remnants can remain a threat long after they are laid, particularly in areas affected by conflict or where heavy rainfall and shifting terrain can displace explosive devices.