India/Pakistan: Shelling on India-Pakistan border Sep. 27

Event

At least one person was killed and eight more people injured in both Pakistani Punjab and Indian Kashmir amid shelling that took place along the border on Wednesday, September 27. 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 have occurred in 2016 and 2017 between Indian and Pakistani troops along the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC). Apart from military casualties, these incidents have claimed civilian lives on both sides and prompted over 20,000 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 LoC) due to the high risk of violence. Additionally, due to high risks of terrorism, 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.