Two Pakistanis killed in BSF firing

Two Pakistani nationals were killed and another injured after India's Border Security Force (BSF) opened fire near the international border, according to Pakistani security sources.

The three residents of Ladha village in Punjab had reportedly moved a few steps beyond a border pillar when BSF personnel opened fire on them on Friday (October 2), the sources said.

The Pakistani sources claimed the three were unarmed and that the BSF opened fire without warning. They also said the men had made no attempt to cross the border fence.

The deceased were identified as Azmat Rasul Shah and Mohsin Jutt, both residents of Jattan Wali Haveli in Ladha, according to the sources.

Pakistani security officials described the incident as “unprovoked” and alleged that it violated existing border agreements and procedures.

The sources also alleged that Indian media had described the civilians as “infiltrators”, claiming there was a tendency to label civilians involved in such incidents as infiltrators.

The incident came a day after Pakistan's military accused India of carrying out an alleged “false flag” operation over the reported killing of a former Pakistani soldier in Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) chief Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry subsequently presented former Special Services Group commando Havildar Muhammad Asif before journalists to demonstrate that he was alive. Asif also said he was alive and living in Pakistan.

No statement from the Indian side regarding the firing near the Kasur border was cited in the report.

-AH