New Delhi: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday expressed deep anguish over the death of two 12-year-old schoolchildren—Zoya and Zain—in Pakistani shelling in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district. In a post on X, Pradhan said Pakistan would have to “pay a heavy price” for targeting civilians, including children, and called the incident a grave violation of human decency.
“The news of two 12-year-old school children losing their lives in Poonch from senseless Pakistani shelling is heartbreaking. No amount of condemnation is enough for this short supply of basic norms of civility and humanity,” Pradhan wrote.
Pakistan will have to pay a heavy price for targeting and killing civilians, including innocent school children. The news of two 12 year-old school children losing their lives in Poonch from senseless Pakistani shelling is heartbreaking. No amount of condemnation is enough for… pic.twitter.com/jgyRSgkPmV
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) May 10, 2025
He also extended condolences to the bereaved families and lauded the courage of citizens living along the International Border. “Also salute the spirit, bravery and resilience of our citizens along the international border. India stands together in this hour,” he added.
India-Pakistan tensions
On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terrorist camps across the Line of Control (LoC) and in Pakistan with precision missile strikes in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The Ministry of Defence reported the elimination of key terrorist infrastructure, aimed at preventing further attacks on Indian soil. Indian officials assert these strikes were a necessary response to Pakistan’s failure to curb cross-border terrorism, citing evidence of militant training camps operating with impunity.
Pakistan retaliated on May 9 with drone and missile attacks on 26 Indian military sites, from Leh to Sir Creek. Indian forces intercepted 300–400 drones, many identified as Turkish-made, preventing significant damage. Three civilian injuries were reported in Punjab’s Ferozpur and 16 civilian deaths occurred due to Pakistani shelling along the LoC. Indian cities like Srinagar, Jammu, and Amritsar faced drone incursions, prompting blackouts in border states (Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana) and heightened air defense measures