Military Flair Up Between India and Pakistan See Both Sides Blaming One Another
29 October, 2019
The military skirmish between Indian and Pakistan where has seen outbreaks of violence as both sides are blaming one another. The continued skirmish is generating additional volatility in both the forex and share markets. Pakistani officials said the cross-border outbreak started when Indian forces launched artillery fire into civilian areas.
India, for its part, insists the action was aimed at stopping infiltration into the Indian-held part of Kashmir. They were protecting their land from the terrorist camps on the Pakistani side. According to Indian military chief General Bipin Rawat his troops destroyed at least three camps near the Line of Control between the two countries which separates the Indian and Pakistani parts of Kashmir. What is clear is if there is not a working agreement there is the potential for a skirmish to become something more.
Reports from India About the Skirmish
Casualties reported by India show that the shelling by Pakistani forces killed two Indian soldiers and a civilian. India also revealed that at least 10-Pakistani soldiers and terrorist were killed in the skirmish. Pakistani officials said the tour was to enable envoys from foreign missions in Islamabad to view what was going on in the area and to understand that India was making false claims. The goal from the Pakistani side was to show an envoy of diplomats that there was no presence of terrorist camps in the region. Diplomats from China, Germany, South Africa and Iran were among the group that visited Pakistani Kashmir.
Pakistani Comments
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry reported that Indian diplomats had been formally invited to join on the tour within the conflict zone. Alice Wells, the US acting Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia, urged both the countries to defuse tensions. Pakistan denounced the Indian actions and immediately downgraded diplomatic ties with New Delhi.
Tensions Remain High
Bilateral tensions remain high and have elevated in the wake of the a decision in India in August when India revoked the special constitutional autonomy for the Muslim-majority portion of Kashmir. Indian security forces have tried to quash dissent, arresting thousands of Kashmiris, including prominent local politicians. Internet and most telecommunications services remain suspended, according to sources. The elevation of geopolitical tensions has helped elevate forex and share volatility in the region.
The Kashmir region is a very sensitive area as both India and Pakistan believe they have rights to the land. Disputes in the area, which India and Pakistan claim in full, have sparked two wars and several conflicts between the countries.
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