Gunfire broke out on Friday near the disputed Kashmir border between India and Pakistan, leaving nine dead and 62 wounded. Both sides claim that the other started the unprovoked firing and shelling.
The attack comes days after four Kashmiri rebels and one Indian army trooper were killed near the border in India-administered Kashmir. Pakistan also accused India of injuring a civilian Sunday after firing on aPakistan Rangers’ station. These are just the most recent incidents along the so-called Line of Control, the de facto border between India and Pakistan, in Kashmir, which has seen a significant uptick in violence in recent months, part of a general rise in instability since late 2012.
An analysis of violence along the Line of Control by the Stimson Center shows that since 2012, shots have been fired at least once every five days in Kashmir. The rise in incidents along the border has many Kashmir observers concerned. Earlier this month, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed worry over the recent deaths in Kashmir and called on leaders in India and Pakistan “to exercise maximum restraint.”