Blood at the border

The increasing number of Pakistani sniping, firing and shelling incidents across the Line of Control and international border in the past few days, leading to a rise in military and civilian deaths, is worrying.

It is possible these have something to do with the prevailing turmoil in Pakistan, driving the Army to assert itself.

A weakened Nawaz Sharif, following the protest marches led by Imran Khan and Tahir-ul-Qadri, does not augur well for India, which finally directed its troops to take appropriate retaliatory measures across the border.

Any hopes of a thaw in the India-Pakistan relationship after Mr Sharif’s visit to India in May for PM Narendra Modi’s swearing-in appear to have been dashed by these persistent attacks, with the civilian government and the military leadership increasingly at odds in Islamabad.

The cancellation of the foreign secretary-level talks dealt a body blow to a possible peace initiative, which had became impossible given Pakistan’s propensity to engage in games with the Kashmiri separatists.

Diplomacy alone might reduce these tensions, but that too depends on Pakistan being able to talk in one voice. A boost in trade may also have helped, as businessmen on both sides have been keenly awaiting a breakthrough.

With Washington having firmly declared itself behind Nawaz Sharif as it cannot obviously see eye to eye with the pro-Taliban, anti-US Imran, India’s peace moves may have to wait until Mr Sharif once again consolidates his position at home. Sadly, meanwhile, a price has to be paid in blood at the border.