Context
Pakistani and Indian troops on Sunday exchanged cross-border fire, according to a spokesperson for the Indian military, one day after an Indian border security official was killed by Pakistan’s Rangers while patrolling close to one of the most heavily fortified borders in the world. According to media reports, the two armies fired shots at each other for half an hour using handguns in a border area 30 kilometers from Jammu. Short exchanges of fire have happened nearly every month since a truce was announced in 2003, but this is the first time an Indian combatant has been killed since May last year.
In the aftermath of Operation Geronimo, Pakistan is concerned that following the US example, India may also try a unilateral operation against individuals on its most wanted list. India’s prime minister clarified recently that it has no such intention. However, to counter such a possibility Pakistan is on a higher state of alert on its border with India.
