Since it was quite dark, there was considerable confusion on the Pakistani side but its military spokesperson made it clear, almost immediately, that there was exchange of fire with “miscreants” in the Hajra sector of Rawalkot opposite Poonch on the Pakistan side.

This position was a shift from the general tendency to blame Indian troops for any such incident. In fact, Indian officials felt that Pakistan would use this as a good example to show their commitment to preventing infiltration into India.

However, the new posture does not seem to have lasted long enough with Islamabad now registering a formal protest.

The narrative around this incident has taken bizarre twists and turns. At first, a Defence Ministry Spokesperson in Jammu claimed that the entire action was actually a first-of- its- kind “joint operation” with Pakistan forces on the LoC. The story only got better after the Pakistan Military Spokesperson spoke about miscreants without blaming Indian troops.

However, within a couple of hours, the military authorities here denied the earlier statement of its local spokesperson and said there was no such joint operation. In fact, the spokesperson concerned was asked for a detailed explanation the next day and Army Chief Gen Deepak Kapoor asked the Defence Ministry to inquire into how local authorities issued such an “inaccurate statement”.

Subsequently, the Army gave out a version that became the general narrative until now. With Pakistan back to blaming India, officials here feel there was a rethink in Islamabad prompted, perhaps, by a section of the government or the Pakistan Army.