Staff Correspondent, Dhaka:
Pakistan has summoned India’s chargé d’affaires and lodged a formal protest over the killing of two Pakistani civilians along the international border, adding a fresh point of tension to already sensitive India-Pakistan ties.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said the two civilians were killed by personnel of India’s Border Security Force (BSF) in the Bedian sector on October 2, with another person reportedly wounded. Islamabad described the use of force as unprovoked and called for an immediate, transparent, and credible investigation.
The diplomatic significance of the incident lies partly in the conflicting accounts surrounding the circumstances of the deaths. Pakistani authorities rejected any characterization of the deceased as “infiltrators,” while Indian media, citing security sources, reported that the border forces had foiled an infiltration attempt. India’s government and the BSF had not publicly responded at the time of reporting.
Islamabad has also urged India to take disciplinary and legal action against anyone found responsible and to communicate the findings to the Pakistani government. It called for adherence to established border procedures, restraint, and measures to prevent similar incidents.
Beyond the immediate dispute, the episode illustrates how incidents involving civilian deaths along the India-Pakistan border can quickly acquire diplomatic dimensions. With the two sides presenting different accounts, an independent and credible determination of the circumstances could be important in limiting further escalation and clarifying responsibility.
