Firefights continued along the Line of Control between Indian and Pakistani Kashmir tonight, with Pakistan reporting 12 civilians slain in cross-border firing so far this month, and urging the United Nations to stop the growing clashes.
Both sides are trading blame for the recent spate of firings, and both sides have seen their share of civilian deaths. The rhetoric seems to be picking up by leaders on both sides as well, particularly with respect to Indian Premier Narendra Modi.
India’s Home Ministry reported the latest orders from Modi are “to ensure that Pakistan suffers deep and heavy losses” in the cross-border fighting, following up on Modi’s bragging about firing 1,000 mortars into Pakistani territory.
Officials say that since Modi’s election in May, he’s been encouraging increasingly aggressive tactics along the border, with an eye toward showing India’s military superiority to Pakistan.
It’s a dangerous game, as India and Pakistan have fought three different border wars along the Line of Control, and neither side wants to be seen as blinking first in the latest conflict.
