Amid row over Pahalgam, BSF negotiates release of its soldier who mistakenly crossed over to Pakistan
'Commandant-level talks are on to secure his release from Pakistan Ranger's custody,' an official privy to the matter told ThePrint.
According to sources, a personnel of constable rank had mistakenly crossed the border in the Ferozepur sector of the international border Wednesday.
New Delhi: Even as India downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan in the aftermath of a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, talks are underway between the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Pakistan Rangers for the release of a BSF personnel currently in the custody of its Pakistani counterpart.
The Pahalgam attack, during which 26 people were killed, was carried out by terrorists alleged to have crossed over from across the border.
In the wake of the attack, the Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met Wednesday and announced drastic measures, including declaring Pakistan's military diplomats being declared Persona Non Grata and holding the longstanding Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan in abeyance.
Among the five decisions announced by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri after the meeting, the immediate closure of the Integrated Check Post at Attari was another major move. The government asked people who had crossed over with valid documents to return before 1 May, 2025.
'The CCS reviewed the overall security situation and directed all forces to maintain high vigil. It resolved that the perpetrators of the attack will be brought to justice and their sponsors held to account. As with the recent extradition of Tahawwur Rana, India will be unrelenting in the pursuit of those who have committed acts of terror, or conspired to make them possible,' Misri said Wednesday.
The decision had led to speculations that the daily beating retreat ceremony, performed by the BSF and Pakistan Rangers at Attari, Hussainiwala and Sadki, will be suspended. However, the BSF Thursday issued a statement confirming that the event would continue, albeit with scaled-down gestures—including the suspension of the symbolic handshake between Indian commanders and their counterparts, and the continued closure of the border gates as part of the downscaling.
'In the wake of the recent tragic attack in Pahalgam, a calibrated decision has been taken to scale down the ceremonial display during the Retreat Ceremony at Attari, Hussainiwala and Sadki in Punjab,' the BSF said in a statement. 'This step reflects India's serious concern over cross-border hostilities and reaffirms that peace and provocation cannot coexist.'
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
Also read: 'He was full of masti, gone too soon.' At Pahalgam victim Neeraj Udhwani's funeral
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