It remains a moot point if the increasing use of snipers by the forces arrayed on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir means fewer killings than when “blanket” firing was the norm. Or, is it a pointer to an even more sinister dimension to a seven-decades-old military confrontation that appears to be leading neither protagonist forward: even the political gains of “muscle” are marked by diminishing returns.

Alas, the national leadership in both countries is too “small” to appreciate the human cost of lives frittered away for notional gains. And feel quite thrilled at avenging deaths so that a balance is maintained in the pointless war of attrition. It has to be a skewed sense of values that prompts an Indian Army officer to opine that snipers can secure badla for beheading ~ and no doubt his opposite number would relish speaking in such gory terms.

That, apparently, is validated by both forces being enslaved by the vicious circle that bonds them in mutual, uncivilised hatred. And in keeping with tradition, Pakistan is directing some of its specialist snipers to shed their uniforms, masquerade as locals to secure vantage points from where to mount acts of targeted terror.

That dubious game has been played right from the ‘Afridi’ raiders in 1947-48 through to the time when the’ “Afghan” terrorists in Kargil were exposed as regulars of the Pakistan army’s Northern Light Infantry. Police personnel in the Valley had recently pointed to the induction of snipers, action on the ground confirms the accuracy of that assessment.

Unfortunately playing tit-for-tat will not be that simple. The sniper rifles issued in Pakistan have a range advantage over the ones used by the Indian forces. Though in principle a decision has been taken to acquire an advanced rifle, cumbersome procedures militate against speedy procurement: the Rafale roiling could exacerbate that situation.

And even if “crash” purchases were made it would take time for snipers to be trained and deployed in adequate numbers. It is a disgrace that when India boasts of its economic strength, its forces have to frequently play catch-up in terms of equipment. Maybe it would help the Army if it “sold” the line that sniper rifles facilitated the “surgical strikes” that the NDA government believes will excise militancy from the Kashmir Valley.

Anyway, the quicker the Army gets those weapons the better. However, looking at the bigger picture it points to an endless small-arms race in J&K. It may be sniper rifles today, some other gizmo tomorrow ~ the military appetite for weaponry is insatiable. And no government in the subcontinent will curtail that expensive wish-list, even as they wail about impoverished masses and seek foreign aid. That kind of aid from the west is seldom denied: it flows back to keep their gun factories in business ~ targeted “killings” of another kind.