The Dog of Tithwal

The introduction of the dog allows the soldiers an opportunity for dialogue. Through this dialogue, the two opposing forces are revealed as Indian and Pakistani. There is extreme hatred on both sides for the people of the other side, and yet it is never explained why one group hates the other. For all the soldiers' similarities, the only dissimilarity seems to be the label of Indian or Pakistani. Even the dog's nationality is up for question, which makes the dog a symbol of the similarities between the two groups.... their only real difference is the label they identify with. Neither group really knows if this dog is from India or Pakistan; its origin remains unknown. Yet each side is suspicious, and even willing to deny the dog food, based on its
nationality.