India/Pakistan: Shelling on India-Pakistan border Sep. 22

Event

At least six people were killed and 30 more people injured in both Pakistani Punjab and Indian Kashmir after shelling along the border on Friday, September 22. Both sides accuse the other of initiating aggression and targeting civilians. Tensions may escalate in the coming days between both countries’ security forces, and further violent exchanges are possible.

Context

Several skirmishes occurred in 2016 and early 2017 between Indian and Pakistani troops along the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (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, some Western governments advise their citizens against nonessential travel within India to the west of Jammu and Kashmir state and against all travel to the border region with Pakistan (direct vicinity of the Line of Control) due to the high threat of terrorism. Additionally, due to a high threat from terrorism, as well as kidnapping and sectarian violence, throughout Pakistan, some Western governments advise their citizens against nonessential travel to the country, where foreign nationals, in particular Westerners, may be directly targeted.