Two Pakistani nationals killed at border; Pakistan summons Indian diplomat in protest
Pakistan's foreign ministry lodged a protest and sought an inquiry, while Indian security sources say the two were suspected infiltrators.
Diplomatic tension between India and Pakistan has resurfaced after two Pakistani nationals were killed on the India-Pakistan border. Pakistan's foreign ministry summoned a senior diplomat of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad to protest the incident. Pakistan has lodged a protest with India over the deaths and demanded an inquiry.
Indian security agencies, however, claim the men were trying to cross the border and enter Indian territory. The two countries' positions on the incident differ sharply.
Pakistan says two Pakistani nationals were killed and another person was injured in firing in the Bedian sector on the international border in Punjab. Pakistan claims those killed were unarmed. It has also said they did not deliberately try to enter Indian territory.
After the incident, Pakistan's foreign ministry summoned the Indian Chargé d'Affaires and lodged an official protest. Pakistan raised the issue of the safety of civilians living near the border. Its stand is that such incidents must not recur.
The key point in the matter is that the two sides differ on the identity of those killed. Pakistan has described them as civilians. Indian security sources, however, have said they were suspected infiltrators.
According to security agencies, the Border Security Force tried to stop them. It is claimed that the suspects kept advancing towards Indian territory, and that firing took place then. Further details will be important on what actually happened, who the men were and under what circumstances they crossed the border.
Pakistan has demanded a prompt and transparent investigation. Its foreign ministry has said that full information should be made public and necessary action taken against those responsible. The incident has again drawn attention to border security and the fragile relations between the two countries.
Infiltration attempts, smuggling and security challenges keep tension running along the border on both sides. Both countries therefore take every such incident very seriously. Attention now turns to what the official investigation reveals.
