Quiet Returns to India-Pakistan Line of Control After Heavy Clashes

Sunday marks the first lull after a week of fighting

After a week of mounting violence between India and Pakistan, the return of India’s captured pilot did not lead to immediate calm. Rather, heavy fire was reported from forces on both sides of the Line of Control deep into Saturday and into early Sunday.

Sunday was a new day, however, and residents on both sides of the Line of Control reported that a lull returned to the area. Tensions remain high, but no one has fired anything in the past 24 hours.

The week of fighting was the worst between India and Pakistan in several years, and raised fears that the two nuclear-armed states were getting close to a disastrous war. International calls for restraint didn’t look to be heeded.

Yet whatever the case, the situation has calmed down, at least for the time being. While there remains concern that fighting could resume at any time, and tensions are far from dissipating.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.