After denying it for the last 13 days, Pakistan finally admitted on Thursday that an Indian soldier was in its custody. The soldier identified as Chandu Babu lal Chouhan had “inadvertently crossed” over to the other side of the line of Control (loC) on September 29 in Poonch sector and was captured by the Pakistan Army.
The Indian Government and the Army had confirmed the incident the same day. Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) lt General Ranbir Singh had informed his Pakistani counterpart about it. Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said on September 29 that efforts were on to bring the soldier back safe.
Pakistan DGMO on Thursday confirmed that Chouhan was in Pakistan Army custody. Officials said Pakistani authorities were interrogating the captive soldier and the DGMO reportedly said the repatriation process of the Army man will begin soon.
However, no deadline has been fixed and the Indian authorities, including Ministry of External Affairs, are following up the case, they said.
Refuting reports that Chouhan was part of the teams which carried out surgical strikes on September 29 across the loC in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) against terrorist launch pads, the Army said the soldier from 37 Rashtriya Rifles with weapon “inadvertently crossed” over to the other side of the loC.
The Army had also denied reports that seven Indian soldiers were killed in retaliatory action by the Pakistan Army during the surgical strikes.
Mentioning that Pakistan was informed by the DGMO on the hotline about the incident involving Chouhan, the Army said such “inadvertent crossing” by the Army and civilians are not unusual on either side.
They are returned through existing mechanisms, the statement said. Chouhan hails from Maharashtra.
Officials said the Indian authorities, including the DGMO, were in regular touch with their Pakistani counterparts for the early release of the soldier. The DGMOs of two countries talk to each other once a week on the hotline to sort out any contentious issues on the lOC or other related matters. Incidentally, the Indian DGMO informed his Pakistani counterpart about the surgical strikes too on the hotline on September 29.
Special Forces teams of the Indian Army conducted pre dawn raids across the lOC against at least seven launch pads in which terrorists were lodged. The Army said “significant casualties” were inflicted in the surgical strikes. The raids were carried out based on Intelligence reports that terrorists had gathered in these launch pads to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir and other metros of the country to step up violence.