India-Pakistan tensions rise: New Delhi summons top Pakistani diplomat over infiltration
New Delhi: India on Saturday summoned Pakistan’s Chargé d’Affaires in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over what the Ministry of External Affairs described as continued facilitation of illegal cross-border infiltration. The move followed Pakistan’s summoning of India’s top diplomat over the killing of two people near the Punjab border.
The Ministry of External Affairs said the Chargé d’Affaires of the Pakistan High Commission was summoned to convey India’s protest over alleged cross-border infiltration from Pakistan.
New Delhi also rejected what it called “baseless and motivated allegations” concerning an October 2 incident in the Ferozepur sector of Punjab along the International Border.
According to the Indian government’s account, three people entered Indian territory despite repeated warnings from the Border Security Force to return towards Pakistan. The MEA said two continued towards the border fence and were engaged by the BSF after being assessed as posing an imminent security threat.
Pakistan had protested BSF firing
The diplomatic exchange followed Pakistan’s decision to summon India’s Chargé d’Affaires over the deaths of two people near the international border.
Pakistan disputed India’s description of the deceased as intruders and said they were unarmed civilians who had inadvertently crossed the border. Islamabad called for an immediate, transparent and credible investigation.
Indian officials, meanwhile, said the two were suspected Pakistani intruders who continued moving towards Indian territory despite warnings. A third person was reported to have returned towards Pakistan.
India links infiltration to drug networks
The MEA said the incident was part of what it described as a recurring pattern of cross-border movement involving armed narcotics syndicates operating from Pakistan.
New Delhi urged Pakistan to investigate alleged infiltration and drug-smuggling activities and examine the role of Pakistani border forces in facilitating such movement.
The Indian government also called for appropriate measures to prevent further incidents.
The latest diplomatic exchange highlights the sharply different accounts provided by the two countries.
India says the individuals crossed into its territory and continued advancing despite warnings from the BSF. Pakistan rejects the description of the deceased as infiltrators and maintains that they were civilians.
Pakistan has also described the use of force as unjustified and disproportionate, while India has defended the BSF action as a response to an immediate security threat.