India summons Pak diplomats, says two killed at Punjab border were infiltrators
India has summoned Pakistan's Charg d’Affaires and lodged a strong protest over what New Delhi described as continued cross-border infiltration from Pakistan, a day after two men were killed by the Border Security Force along the Punjab border. Pakistan, however, maintains that the two were unarmed civilians who had inadvertently crossed the International Border.
The Ministry of External Affairs said on Saturday that the Pakistani diplomat was summoned over the October 2 incident in the Ferozepur sector of Punjab. India also rejected what it called “baseless and motivated allegations” made by Pakistan over the incident.
The diplomatic exchange came after Pakistan summoned India's Charg d’Affaires earlier today and lodged what it called a “strong protest” over the deaths. Islamabad said the two men were civilians and rejected India's description of them as infiltrators.INDIA SAYS THREE CROSSED INTO ITS TERRITORY
According to the Indian account, three people crossed into Indian territory and continued moving towards the border fence despite repeated warnings from the BSF to return to Pakistan.
The MEA said the BSF was “compelled to engage them” after they posed an imminent security threat. India said the incident was part of a pattern involving cross-border movement by armed narcotics syndicates operating from Pakistan.
The government urged Pakistan to investigate cross-border infiltration and drug smuggling activities, as well as what India described as the complicity of Pakistani border forces.
India also called on Pakistan to respect the sanctity of the International Border, observe relevant bilateral arrangements and ensure that its forces prevent unauthorised movement from its side.TWO KILLED AFTER ALLEGEDLY IGNORING WARNINGS
Indian officials had earlier said BSF troops shot dead two suspected Pakistani intruders along the International Border in Punjab's Tarn Taran district on Friday.
The incident took place around noon. Tarn Taran Deputy Superintendent of Police Atul Soni said three intruders were moving towards the Indian side, but one later returned to Pakistan.
The other two continued towards India despite warnings from BSF personnel to turn back, Soni said.
According to a BSF sentry, the two men were also provoking the troops and saying they wanted to enter Indian territory. The BSF then opened fire, killing the two men, Soni said.
Senior BSF officers visited the spot, while the identities of the two deceased were being ascertained, he said.PAKISTAN CALLS THEM CIVILIANS
Pakistan has rejected India's account of the incident.
In its statement, the Pakistan Foreign Office said the Indian Charg d’Affaires was summoned to “lodge Pakistan’s strong protest over the killing” of two Pakistani civilians by BSF personnel in the Bedian sector along the International Border on October 2.
Pakistan said the two men were unarmed and had inadvertently crossed the International Border.
“The BSF personnel resorted to unprovoked lethal force against unarmed civilians. Such use of force was wholly unjustified and grossly disproportionate, resulting in the tragic loss of two precious lives,” the Pakistan Foreign Office said.
Islamabad also rejected any attempt to describe the deceased as “infiltrators”.
Pakistan called for an “immediate, transparent and credible investigation” and sought appropriate disciplinary and legal action against those found responsible. It also asked India to communicate the findings of any investigation to the Pakistani government.INDIA URGES PAKISTAN TO STOP CROSS-BORDER MOVEMENT
India, meanwhile, urged Pakistan to take measures to prevent similar incidents and to exercise effective control over movement from its side of the border.
The MEA said the incident demonstrated a pattern of cross-border movement involving armed narcotics syndicates and asked Pakistan to investigate such activities and the alleged involvement of its border forces.
The two sides have therefore presented sharply different versions of the October 2 incident, with India describing the dead as suspected infiltrators who ignored warnings to turn back, while Pakistan says they were civilians who inadvertently crossed the border.
Punjab shares a 553-km border with Pakistan, making incidents involving unauthorised crossings and border movement a recurring security concern.
The latest incident has now triggered a diplomatic exchange, with both countries summoning each other's diplomats and demanding action based on their respective accounts of what happened.- Ends
