A day after Pakistan claimed that it has captured an Indian Army soldier while retaliating to firing from the Indian side at the Line of Control (LoC), Home Minister Rajnath Singh said all attempts were being made to secure the release of the Indian soldier, who inadvertently crossed over to Pakistan.
Indian Army has dismissed reports that the soldier’s crossing over was related to the surgical strikes it carried out along the LoC on Wednesday.
Mr. Singh said the government had taken note of the reports which stated that an Indian soldier is in Pakistan's captivity.
“All attempts are being made to secure his release,” Mr. Singh said on Friday.
The Minister said that New Delhi would take up the matter with Islamabad for his early release.
“The DGMO has spoken to his Pakistani counterpart regarding his release. We will exhaust all options and see to it that he is returned to us. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has also been asked to take up the matter with their counterparts,” said a senior Home Ministry official.
Indian Army sources said on Thursday that “one soldier from 37 RR with weapon has inadvertently crossed over to the other side of the Line of Control. Pakistan has been informed by the DGMO on the hotline.”
“Such inadvertent crossing by the Army and civilians are not unusual on either side. They are returned through existing mechanisms,” Indian Army had said.
