Pakistan has a way of making its presence felt in India's foreign policy and national security matrix that, much to New Delhi's chagrin, tends to steal India's diplomatic thunder.

At a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was trying to project himself as a global statesman with a successful visit to Japan and to Gujarat — followed by a visit to Delhi by the Chinese president — and a "rock star" reception in the United States, Pakistan decided it must get some attention.

So the Pakistani Army did what it does best. It escalated tensions along the border in an attempt to ratchet up pressure on India. It started with unprovoked mortar shelling on forward Indian positions along the Line of Control, and over the next few days, the firing spread to the international border and intensified.