New Delhi:
Border Security Force (BSF) Jawan PK Sahu's family is anxiously waiting for his return after being held by Pakistan Rangers because he wrongly crossed the border, a day after Pahalgam's terror attack kicked a fast tumbling in cross -border tires.
Sahu, posted with the 182nd battalion of the BSF, was held on Wednesday after unintentionally exceeded the international border in Punjab. The resident of West Bengal reportedly accompanied a group of farmers near the border when he walked ahead to rest under a tree and unknowingly crossed to Pakistani territory, where he was arrested.
Official sources told PTI He was in uniform and wore his service rifle when the incident took place, weeks after he reported himself back after a Holi leave period with his family.
In West Bengal, his parents, wife and seven-year-old son encouraged the government to guarantee the safe release of Sahu. Bholanath Sahu, his father, said that his son's battalion commander had called him and had informed him of the situation. “I last spoke to him on Tuesday evening. He has been to the BSF for 17 years. I just want him to return home soon,” said the wife of the Jawan Rajani PTI.
Flag meetings were held between the two parties on Wednesday and Thursday to secure the release of the Jawan.
Civil servants told PTI that such incidents were not uncommon and between the two parties happened in the past. Earlier, a Jawan from the Pakistan Rangers Jawan had also wrongly crossed the border and entered India, but was sent home after interrogation.
But what contributes to worries about the return of Sahu are the acidifying ties between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack that 26 people killed.
India took a whole series of measures against Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism, including the expulsion of Pakistani military confirmations, suspension of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty and immediately closing the Attari Land-Transit Post with a view to the cross-border ties with the terror attack.
In response, Pakistan said that it will never “allow anyone to violate his sovereignty, safety, dignity and their inalienable rights”. Islamabad said that every movement to kill water under the Indus Water Treaty will be considered a war. It announced the suspension of trade, bilateral chords, including the Simla agreement and air spaces with India. The Wagah Border Post was closed with immediate effect.
