Pakistan-India border tensions lead to blackout in Azad Kashmir's Neelum Valley

Azad Kashmir's Neelum Valley experienced a blackout last night due to potential escalation threats on the Pakistan-India border.

Officials reported that the electricity supply was intentionally cut off from the Nausori grid station, which includes the Jagran and Sargan power houses.

Regarding the matter, the Electricity Department explained that the power outage was implemented as a precautionary step in response to border tensions.

Indian media reported that a blackout exercise was also carried out in the entire Ferozepur Cantonment area on Sunday.

"The blackout was from 9 PM to 9:30 PM. As per the orders of the senior officers, lights were fully switched off. If any vehicle was found with its light turned on, it was turned off...Police are fully alert. Deployment has been made at all intersections," Indian media quoted Gurjant Singh, SHO, Ferozepur Cantt Police Station as saying. 

Read: Indian quadcopter shot down by Pakistan Army as tension flare on LoC

On Monday, Representatives of local and international media, accompanied by Minister for Information Ataullah Tarar, visited the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border between Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

The purpose of the visit was to counter and expose India's false and baseless propaganda regarding alleged terrorist hideouts in the region.

The delegation was taken to specific locations that India had previously claimed were being used for militant activity.

During the visit, media representatives were given the opportunity to observe the ground realities, interact with local residents, and independently assess the situation.

Check: Unprovoked Indian firing on LoC met with forceful response from Pakistan Army

Tensions escalated following the April 22 attack on tourists in the Pahalgam area of Indian-occupied Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 tourists.

Amid the escalating situation, political analysts voiced deep concern over the potential for further conflict along the LoC, the de facto border between Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, established under the 1972 Simla Agreement.

It is worth noting that Pakistan suspended its adherence to the Simla Agreement after India unilaterally pulled out of the Indus Waters Treaty and adopted a series of hostile measures, including revoking visas, banning Pakistani citizens from entering India, and expelling diplomatic staff.

The United States and China urged restraint and called on the two nuclear-armed neighbours to pursue a responsible and peaceful resolution to the crisis.