ISLAMABAD: Pakistan summoned India’s Charge d’Affaires on Saturday to lodge a “strong protest” over the martyrdom of two Pakistani civilians by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) in the Bedian Sector along the Pakistan-India international border.
The Indian diplomat was summoned a day after Azmat Rasool Shah and Mohsin Jutt, residents of Jattan Wali Haveli in Ladhar, were martyred in the firing. Another Pakistani civilian was also injured in the incident. According to security sources, the three civilians were unarmed and were targeted without warning after moving only a few steps beyond a border pillar. The sources said the civilians had not attempted to cross the border fence.
In a statement, the Foreign Office said that the BSF personnel had resorted to “unprovoked lethal force” against unarmed civilians on Friday, describing it as “wholly unjustified and grossly disproportionate”.
Pakistan categorically rejected any attempt to characterise the deceased as “infiltrators”, according to the FO.
It underscored that the incident constituted a serious violation of fundamental human rights, including the right to life, and raised serious concerns regarding the protection of civilian life under international law. The Indian side was called upon to conduct an immediate, transparent and credible investigation into the incident, the FO said.
Pakistan also demanded that appropriate disciplinary and legal action be taken against those found responsible and that India formally communicate the findings of the investigation and action taken to the Government of Pakistan.
India was further urged to ensure respect for fundamental human rights and international law, strictly observe relevant bilateral arrangements and established border procedures and exercise maximum restraint in dealing with such situations.
The FO also called on India to take effective measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
Meanwhile, India’s foreign ministry later rejected what it called “baseless and motivated allegations” and said it had summoned the chargé d’affaires of the Pakistan High Commission to protest at the “continued facilitation of illegal cross-border infiltration from Pakistan”. India also urged Pakistan to respect the international border, observe bilateral arrangements and ensure its forces prevented unauthorised movement from its side.
Meanwhile, Russia has expressed concern on the ongoing military confrontation between Pakistan and Afghanistan. “We are seriously concerned about the ongoing military confrontation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which affects civilians, including children, Russian Embassy in Kabul said on X. “Another episode was recent airstrikes on Afghanistan’s provinces of Helmand and Kunar overnight on October 1, which caused a number of people killed, including children, and injured,” it added.
