India: Pakistani soldiers shell areas across the border in Jammu and Kashmir May 17

Event

Indian defense officials reported that as of Wednesday, May 17, Pakistani forces are continuing to fire shells across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir for the fourth consecutive day. According to officials, Pakistani soldiers shelled three areas of the Rajouri district overnight, forcing almost 1700 people to evacuate. On Tuesday, May 16, the Nowshera area was targeted with small arms and mortars. Indian officials said that over 10,000 people have been affected by the recent shelling.

Context

On Saturday, May 13, Indian officials claimed that two civilians were killed and three wounded in cross-border shelling in the Nowshera area.

Last year saw a surge in skirmishes between Indian and Pakistani troops along the International Border (IB) and the LoC. Apart from military casualties, these incidents claimed civilian lives on both sides and prompted residents to flee border areas. Both New Delhi and Islamabad accuse each other of unprovoked shootings and other violations of ceasefire agreements. Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.

Advice

As a reminder, authorities advise against all travel to Jammu and Kashmir, as well as to the border region with Pakistan (direct vicinity of the Line of Control) due to the high threat of terrorism, with the exception of the city of Jammu and the region of Ladakh. Western governments usually advise their citizens against all but essential travel to the city of Srinagar.