Were there no firearms available?
The region is a gun free zone by international agreement.
By an agreement brokered back in 1964, no firearms are allowed in the zone close to the ceasefire line, but unarmed scouting patrols do take place.
I think both sides know that a fire fight would escalate very quickly drawing in more units on both sides until eventually one side might be tempted to do something stupid.
Like cookcounty said,no firearms in the area so as to minimize escalation.
So a good Louisville slugger with razor wire or some such medievel weapon has to do.
Heck, i read that the majority of Indians died of getting thrown off cliffs.
Pretty basic warfare.
Bullets are expensive. They needed to cut costs and maybe some throats.