India summons Pakistan envoy over Punjab border infiltration, rejects 'civilian killings' claim

India on Saturday summoned Pakistan's Chargé d'Affaires to lodge a strong protest over what it described as continued attempts at illegal cross-border infiltration. New Delhi also rejected Islamabad's allegation that two unarmed Pakistani civilians were killed by the Border Security Force (BSF) along the Punjab border on Friday.

The diplomatic exchanges followed a firing incident along the International Border in Punjab on October 2, with India and Pakistan giving sharply different accounts of what happened.

India rejects Pakistan's account

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said three people had entered Indian territory and continued moving towards the border fence despite repeated warnings from the BSF.

“The Pakistani side was informed that three individuals infiltrated into Indian territory and despite multiple warnings by 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,” India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

India also linked the incident to what it described as 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,” the statement further added.

Pakistan summons Indian envoy

Pakistan, meanwhile, summoned India's Chargé d'Affaires and lodged a protest over the deaths. Islamabad said the two men were unarmed civilians and rejected India's description of them as infiltrators.

Pakistan said the BSF had used “unprovoked lethal force against unarmed civilians” and called for an immediate, transparent and credible investigation.

“Such use of force was wholly unjustified and grossly disproportionate, resulting in the tragic loss of two precious lives. Pakistan categorically rejects any attempt to mischaracterize the deceased as ‘infiltrators’," Pakistan's foreign ministry said.

What happened at the border?

According to Indian officials, the incident took place around noon in Punjab's Tarn Taran district. Three suspected intruders were reportedly moving towards the Indian side when one turned back. The other two allegedly continued advancing despite warnings from BSF personnel, after which troops opened fire.

Pakistan's account differs. Its state media reported that the men were from Ladhar village in Pakistan's Punjab and had moved only a few steps beyond a border pillar. Islamabad said the two killed were civilians and that another person was injured.

The two countries have therefore presented contrasting accounts of the circumstances leading to the firing, with the diplomatic dispute continuing on Saturday.