Abstract
Written by Happymon Jacob, The Line of Control ─ Travelling with the Indian and Pakistani Armies is a unique book in many ways. Associate Professor at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, the author had the rare chance to personally visit the Line of Control (LoC) both in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK), as well as, the Azad Kashmir to investigate and get first-hand knowledge of the factors causing ceasefire violations. His journey to the LoC with the officers of rival armies and interaction with the people living near the LoC is not only an eye-opener but also makes one marvel the bravery and perseverance of these people. The author explains his interest to know the exact causes that lead to ceasefire violations on the LoC. Visiting only the LoC in the IOK would have only been a half picture, hence, the author decided to visit the Pakistani side as well. In the first three chapters, the author explains the difficulties for two long years he faced in getting permission from Pakistan to visit its side of the LoC and how a number of his influential Pakistani friends and colleagues from Track-II diplomacy helped him in the realisation of his ambition.