India summons Pak envoy over ‘cross-border infiltration’, rejects Ferozepur claims

MEA rejects Pak’s claims on Ferozepur border incident

NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs on Saturday summoned the Chargé d’Affaires of the Pakistan high commission to lodge a strong protest over what it described as the continued facilitation of illegal cross-border infiltration from Pakistan.It also rejected as “baseless and motivated” Pakistan’s allegations over an October 2 incident in the Ferozepur sector of Punjab along the International Border.MEA said that Pakistani was informed that three individuals had entered Indian territory and continued moving towards the border fence despite repeated warnings from the BSF to return. The force subsequently engaged them after they were assessed to pose an imminent security threat.“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,” MEA said in a statement.

MEA said the incident was part of a repeated pattern of cross-border movement by armed narcotics syndicates operating from Pakistan. Islamabad was urged to investigate such infiltration and drug-smuggling activities, including the alleged involvement of Pakistani border forces, and take appropriate corrective measures.“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,” it said.