Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 4: India on Saturday summoned Pakistan's Chargé d'Affaires Saad Warraich and lodged a strong protest over what it described as Islamabad's “continued facilitation” of illegal cross-border infiltration, hours after Pakistan summoned India's Chargé d'Affaires in Islamabad over the alleged killing of two civilians by the Border Security Force (BSF).
The diplomatic exchanges followed a border incident in Punjab on October 2. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said it had summoned India's Chargé d'Affaires to protest the alleged killing of two Pakistani civilians by BSF personnel in the Bedian sector along the International Border. Pakistan described the deceased as civilians and rejected India's characterisation of them as infiltrators.
India, however, rejected Pakistan's allegations as “baseless and motivated”. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Pakistani Chargé d'Affaires was summoned to convey India's strong protest over the “continued facilitation of illegal cross-border infiltration from Pakistan”.
According to the MEA, three individuals had infiltrated Indian territory in the Ferozepur sector of Punjab on October 2. The ministry said the BSF repeatedly warned them to return to Pakistan, but they continued moving towards the border fence.
The BSF was then “compelled to engage them” after they allegedly posed an imminent security threat, the MEA said.
India said the incident highlighted what it described as a repeated pattern of cross-border movement involving armed narcotics syndicates operating from Pakistan.
The Indian government urged Pakistan to investigate cross-border infiltration and drug-smuggling activities and examine the alleged involvement of Pakistani border-guarding forces. It also called for appropriate remedial measures.
New Delhi further urged Pakistan to respect the sanctity of the international border, strictly adhere to bilateral arrangements and ensure that its forces exercise effective control to prevent unauthorised movement from its territory.
India also called for definitive measures to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
Pakistan, in its statement, said the BSF had used what it described as “unprovoked lethal force” against unarmed civilians and called for an immediate, transparent and credible investigation into the incident. Islamabad also urged India to take appropriate disciplinary and legal action against those found responsible.
The latest diplomatic exchanges come amid heightened concerns over cross-border infiltration, narcotics smuggling and security along the India-Pakistan international border.