India summoned Pakistan’s Chargé d’Affaires Saad Ahmad Warraich on October 3 and rejected what it called Islamabad’s “baseless and motivated allegations” over a border incident in Punjab.

India said three individuals crossed into the Ferozepur sector of Punjab on October 2. Border Security Force personnel warned them but were “compelled to engage” when the warnings were ignored, the Ministry of External Affairs said. It said the crossing was part of a pattern linked to narcotics trafficking syndicates.

The MEA rejected Pakistan’s version of events as “completely false” and registered its strong protest. It said it had also issued a note verbale documenting the incident and warned of strict action against any further attempts to breach the border.

Pakistan had earlier summoned India’s Chargé d’Affaires to protest what it called an unprovoked incident, saying Indian forces had fired across the border. India dismissed the claim.

The incident comes amid strained ties between the neighbours. India said it reserves the right to respond to any threat to its territorial integrity and sovereignty. Pakistan also lodged its own formal protest.