A massive cordon and search operation has been launched in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district after a terrorist attack on an army vehicle on Thursday. Five soldiers were killed and another seriously injured in a terrorist attack on an army vehicle.

Officials said the vehicle was hit by more than a dozen bullets from all directions, indicating that multiple terrorists may have been involved in the attack.

The vehicle carrying soldiers - all from the Rashtriya Rifles unit deployed for counter-terrorism operations - came under fire from terrorists at around 3 pm and caught fire in 'due to a bomb attack, the report said.

The attack took place three months after a targeted attack on a Hindu family in Rajouri. Seven people were killed and more than 10 people were injured in the attack. The perpetrators are still at large despite a massive security operation in the area to find them. The police said that the terrorists are Pakistani citizens.

The National Investigation Agency, or NIA, will be involved in the probe, an official told to news channel, adding that a team of anti-terrorism agencies in Jammu is on its way to the site of the attack.

A forensic team is also at the site near Bhimber Gali area in Poonch, officials added. Four of the five soldiers are from Punjab while one soldier is from Odisha.

The 16th Army which was stationed at Nagrota, identified the soldiers who died in the attack as: Havildar Mandeep Singh, Lance Naik Debashish Baswal, Lance Naik Kulwant Singh, Sepoy Harkrishan Singh and Sepoy Sewak Singh. "The Whitenight Corps supports the bereaved families," he said in a tweet.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said he was saddened by the loss of these brave soldiers. "During this terrible hour, my thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives", the defense minister tweeted.

Political parties also condemned the attack. In a tweet, Congress Speaker Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Strength on the terrorist attack on an army vehicle in Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir. Our condolences go out to the family of 5 brave Rashtriya Rifles. " "Our prayers are with the injured workers. We are united against terrorism,” he said.

"I pay tribute to these heroes and express my deepest condolences to their bereaved families," former Congress president Rahul Gandhi said.

Jammu and Kashmir BJP leader Ravinder Raina condemned the terror attacks by Pakistan-backed terrorists and said that the killings of militants will be avenged.

National Conference President Omar Abdullah tweeted: “Disgusting news of the terrorist attack in Poonch which claimed the lives of 5 army personnel. I strongly condemn the heinous attack and offer my condolences to the relatives of those killed today. May the soul of the deceased rest in peace.” Apni Association President Altaf Bukhari said he was saddened by the terror attack. People's Congress president Sajad Lone also condemned the attack.

The terror attack came on the day Pakistan announced that its Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will travel to India next month for the Shanghai and Goa foreign ministers' meeting. Zardari's visit to India will be the first visit by a Pakistani foreign minister since Hina Rabbani Khar in 2011.

India-Pakistan relations were seriously strained after the 2019 terror attack in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan-backed terrorists and India's surgical strikes on refugee camps. terrorist training in Pakistan's Balakot in response.

Relations continued after India announced the release of special powers in Jammu and Kashmir and the separation of the state from the union territory in August 2019.