Two Pakistani civilians were killed and a third wounded by fire from Indian border guards near the border in Punjab province on Friday, according to Pakistani security sources, intensifying tensions between the neighboring countries. The incident occurred close to a border pillar in Kasur district, eastern Pakistan, when three unarmed men reportedly crossed a few steps beyond the border line.

Pakistan Television, citing local security officials, reported that the individuals were civilians and were shot by personnel from India’s Border Security Force (BSF). Pakistani authorities condemned the shooting, describing it as an unprovoked attack. Meanwhile, Indian media offered a contrasting account, stating that the men were suspected of attempting to cross illegally into Indian territory.

The incident occurred amid already heightened friction following recent developments in the contested Kashmir region. Just a day earlier, Pakistan’s military challenged Indian claims that its forces had killed a senior commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a militant group designated as extremist. Pakistan presented an individual it said India had mistakenly identified as the deceased militant.

Pakistan and India have a long history of conflict, having fought three wars since gaining independence from British rule in 1947, two of which were centered on Kashmir. The territory remains divided and disputed, with both countries asserting sovereignty over it. Clashes in the region, including cross-border firing and attacks, have been frequent in recent years but the international border in Punjab province has largely remained calm.

In April 2025, violence escalated significantly when attackers in Indian-administered Kashmir killed 26 tourists, an act New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based groups. This attack precipitated weeks of military confrontations, including missile exchanges and drone strikes, marking the most serious face-to-face conflict between India and Pakistan in decades.

Following Friday’s border shooting, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the charge d’affaires of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad on Saturday to formally protest the killings. The move signals Islamabad’s intent to raise the matter diplomatically as both sides continue to manage a fragile peace along their shared borders. No official response from the Indian government was immediately available.