Alongside the strategy of using civilian areas as cover for its own military assets, Pakistan’s military has also been repeatedly accused of deliberately targeting civilian areas on the Indian side of the border. This twin approach — shielding its own military behind civilians while targeting the adversary’s civilian population — reflects a comprehensive doctrine designed to maximise India’s humanitarian and administrative burden while minimising the military costs to Pakistan.
The targeting of civilian areas along the border is not accidental or incidental. It appears to be a deliberate strategy aimed at spreading fear and panic among border populations, destabilising communities, disrupting normal life, and placing enormous pressure on local administration and emergency services. The practical effect is to create a humanitarian crisis in the border regions — one that absorbs Indian resources, generates negative media coverage, and undermines civilian morale.
Artillery fire directed at civilian areas in Poonch District, reportedly from Pakistan positions near the Rawalakot Advance Landing Ground, illustrates this approach. The SH-15 Mounted Gun System, deployed in PoJ&K, was reportedly used to fire towards Indian civilian areas — a military system being deliberately used against non-military targets. This is not merely a violation of IHL; under international law, the deliberate targeting of civilian populations constitutes a war crime.
The deliberate generation of civilian fear and displacement serves Pakistan’s operational objectives in multiple ways. It forces India to divert military and administrative resources to humanitarian relief and civilian protection. It creates pressure on the Indian government to accept ceasefire terms that may not reflect the military situation on the ground. And it generates images of suffering Indian civilians that can be exploited internationally — particularly in countries where anti-India sentiment provides fertile ground for Pakistan’s narrative.
Border communities in Indian states such as Jammu & Kashmir have lived under the shadow of Pakistan’s cross-border firing for decades. The targeting of these communities is not a new phenomenon; it has been a persistent feature of Pakistan’s military approach along the LoC for many years. What may have changed in May 2025 is the scale and sophistication of the weapons being used — with advanced artillery systems like the SH-15 adding to the already considerable threat faced by border populations.
India’s response to this challenge has consistently sought to balance the imperative of military action with the protection of its own civilian population. The task is made harder by Pakistan’s deliberate strategy of targeting civilian areas — a strategy designed to create a dilemma in which any Indian response risks being characterised as disproportionate or escalatory. Exposing this strategy for what it is — a calculated military approach to exploit civilian vulnerability — is essential to ensuring that international understanding of the conflict accurately reflects the responsibilities of both parties.
