7 Days, 7 Meetings & 1 Excuse By Pakistan To Drag Its Feet On Release Of Detained BSF Jawan

News18

01-05-2025

Last Updated:
Top sources told News18 that every meeting, each lasting about 15 minutes, has yielded the same excuse from Pakistani officials: they are awaiting instructions from higher-ups
It has now been seven days since a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan, PK Sahu of the 182nd battalion, was captured by Pakistan Rangers after he accidentally crossed the International Border near Punjab's Firozpur. Despite daily meetings between the forces on both sides, the Pakistan Rangers continue to drag their feet, citing 'lack of orders from senior authorities" as the reason for the jawan's continued detention.
Top sources told News18 that every meeting so far, each lasting about 15 minutes, has yielded the same rehearsed excuse from Pakistani officials: they are still awaiting instructions from their higher-ups.
'We have been meeting them daily, but every day, they repeat the same line—that they have not received orders from senior authorities to release the BSF jawan," a senior BSF officer said. 'They claim they are asking daily, but there has been no movement or direction from their top leadership," the official added.
In the latest meeting held on Wednesday, the Pakistan Rangers once again repeated their now familiar line: 'We are sorry; we are waiting for orders from senior authorities, but we have not received any order."
Officials emphasised that Sahu had crossed barely 1–2 meters into Pakistani territory—an incident that could have been resolved within hours if Pakistan had been willing. Instead, even after a full week, no concrete steps have been taken to release the jawan, raising serious concerns about Pakistan's intentions.
Such minor accidental crossings have historically been handled with mutual understanding and prompt repatriation by both sides. However, this time, Pakistan appears to be deliberately stalling, likely in the backdrop of rising tensions after the Pahalgam terror attack.
On April 22, terrorists linked to the Lashkar-e-Taiba—operating under the banner of The Resistance Front (TRF)—opened fire on a group of tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, killing 26 people. The brutal attack has reignited anger in India over Pakistan's continued support for terrorism.
Pakistan's reluctance to release Sahu immediately mirrors its past tactics, including during the 2019 capture of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman after the Pulwama terror attack. Then too, Pakistan held the officer for nearly 60 hours before international pressure forced them to release him.
This time, however, Pakistan's prolonged silence and inaction over a simple case of accidental border crossing expose its deliberate and provocative approach, further straining already tense relations.
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