പഞ്ചാബ് അതിർത്തിയിൽ രണ്ട് പാകിസ്ഥാൻകാർ കൊല്ലപ്പെട്ട സംഭവത്തിൽ ഇന്ത്യയും പാകിസ്ഥാനും പരസ്പരം നയതന്ത്ര പ്രതിനിധികളെ വിളിച്ചുവരുത്തി പ്രതിഷേധിച്ചു. നുഴഞ്ഞുകയറ്റക്കാരാണ് കൊല്ലപ്പെട്ടതെന്ന് ഇന്ത്യ വ്യക്തമാക്കിയപ്പോൾ, അവർ സാധാരണക്കാരാണെന്ന് പാകിസ്ഥാൻ വാദിക്കുന്നു. അതിർത്തിയിലെ സുരക്ഷാ വീഴ്ചയും ലഹരിക്കടത്തും സംബന്ധിച്ചും ഇരുരാജ്യങ്ങളും തമ്മിൽ തർക്കം തുടരുകയാണ്.
New Delhi calls the men suspected infiltrators while Islamabad says they are civilians, with both sides seeking action over the October 2 episode
The external affairs ministry on Saturday summoned Pakistan's Chargé d'Affaires (CDA) to register protest over the "continued facilitation of illegal cross-border infiltration from Pakistan", rejecting Islamabad's allegations about the "incident" in Punjab's Ferozepur sector on Friday in which two Pakistanis were killed.
Pakistan had earlier in the day summoned the Indian CDA in Islamabad to protest the killing of "two Pakistani civilians". According to Pakistan's foreign office, the two were killed by the BSF in the Bedian sector along the international border, insisting that the Indian paramilitary force "resorted to unprovoked lethal force against unarmed civilians".
Rejecting Pakistan's allegations, India said the Pakistani side was informed that three individuals infiltrated into Indian territory and, despite multiple warnings by the BSF to return to Pakistan, continued to move towards the border fence.
"The BSF was compelled to engage them for posing an imminent security threat. This incident highlights a clear pattern of repeated cross-border movement by armed narcotics syndicates operating from Pakistan. Government of Pakistan was urged to investigate these cross-border infiltration, drug smuggling activities and the complicity of Pakistan Border Guarding forces therein, and to take appropriate remedial measures.''
India also urged Pakistan to ensure respect for the sanctity of the international border, strictly observe relevant bilateral arrangements and mandate its forces to exercise effective control to prevent unauthorised movement from its side, and take definitive measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents. There was no mention in the statement about any casualties.
Pakistan, for its part, has rejected what it described as an attempt to "mischaracterise the deceased as infiltrators", underscoring that the incident constituted a "serious violation of fundamental human rights, including the right to life".
Islamabad also raised serious concerns regarding the protection of civilian life under international law. It has called for a "credible investigation" into the incident by India and appropriate disciplinary and legal action against those responsible.
The Pakistan foreign ministry statement did not provide details on the identity of the deceased apart from referring to them as civilians.