Book Review: Line on Fire: Ceasefire Violations and India-Pakistan Escalation Dynamics by Happymon Jacob

Line on Fire explores various areas regarding the Kashmir issue. It attempts to disprove the common explanations about the basis of ceasefire violations (CFVs) in Jammu and Kashmir. The writer, Happymon Jacob, is a professor of disarmament studies at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. He investigates the reasons for the ceasefire violations. The author's visit to Pakistan facilitated him in gaining a balanced perspective on the bilateral dynamics regarding the matter.

The book is divided into seven chapters. The work is well- researched as the writer had the opportunity to meet important political & military leaders from both sides of the border. Jacob has based the book on the idea of how the two countries identify wrong reasons for violations of the ceasefire and how such flawed understanding has caused both states to adopt flawed policies. Line on Fire provides a comprehensive understanding of the various factors involved in the escalations that take place on the LoC. The author offers a set of other reasons causing the failure of the ceasefire between both countries.

The book can provide a framework for the thinkers and politicians in both countries to finalise an all-inclusive ceasefire agreement in order to avoid violations of LoC in the future. ​Line on Fire is a recommended reading for anyone who is looking for an unbiased understanding of the situation along the LoC and how bilateral relations affect escalations.
Title: Line on Fire: Ceasefire Violations and India-Pakistan Escalation Dynamics
Author: Happymon Jacob. Publisher: Oxford University Press, New Delhi, India, 2019, 401.