Singh's comments came in response to a report by The Guardian, which claimed that India had carried out targeted killings in Pakistan since 2020.

Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Saturday, denouncing India's assertion of its readiness to execute civilians inside Pakistan. The ministry labeled it as a clear admission of culpability and reaffirmed Pakistan's determination to safeguard its sovereignty against any form of aggression.

During an interview with CNN News18, Singh responded to the Guardian report by stating that if individuals involved in terrorist activities flee to Pakistan, India would enter its neighboring country to eliminate them. He emphasized India's desire to maintain good relations with its neighbors but made it clear that it would not spare those promoting terrorism within its borders.

Pakistani security officials, speaking anonymously to Al Jazeera, acknowledged at least six killings in 2023 and two in the previous year. They suspected that a "hostile intelligence agency," referring to India's Research and Analysis Wing, was behind these killings. A thorough investigation into the matter is underway.

Tensions between India and Pakistan have deteriorated since the 2019 suicide bombing in Kashmir, which was attributed to Pakistan-based fighters and prompted India to conduct an airstrike on what it claimed was a militant base in Pakistan. Earlier this year, Pakistan claimed to have credible evidence linking Indian agents to the killing of two Pakistani citizens within its territory. India vehemently denied these allegations, labeling them as false and malicious propaganda.

It is worth noting that Canada and the United States have also accused India of carrying out killings on foreign soil. Canada, in September, announced pursuing "credible allegations" linking India to the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader. The US, in a similar vein, revealed in November that it had thwarted an Indian plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader and had charged an individual for orchestrating the attempted murder, allegedly in collaboration with India.

India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has assured that his government will thoroughly investigate any information received regarding these incidents.

The strained relationship between India and Pakistan coupled with the recent exchange of accusations has further escalated the already tense situation in the region. The international community closely watches as both countries grapple with the implications of these accusations and work towards finding a resolution.