SRINAGAR: A Pakistani national who was detained after crossing the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district last week has been repatriated. The handover formalities were marked by handshakes between the two armies.
Handover at Aman Setu
Asad Khan's handover took place Thursday at the Aman Setu peace bridge over the Kishanganga river in Kupwara's Teetwal area, approximately 158 kilometers north of Srinagar, in the presence of senior officials from both sides.
Detention and Background
According to the Army, Khan, a native of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province who had been staying in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), was detained near Kupwara's Samari village on June 12 after crossing the LoC.
The Army stated that Khan was treated "with dignity and compassion, reflecting the Indian Army's unwavering commitment to humanitarian values and conduct". The statement added, "His safe repatriation underscores the Indian Army's ethos, responsibility and adherence to the highest standards of military professionalism."
Circumstances of Crossing
Khan, whose three brothers work in Saudi Arabia, had traveled to PoK's Neelum Valley in search of a job. He reportedly lost his way amid heightened tensions in the region last week before inadvertently crossing the LoC.
Earlier, on June 12, the Army's Srinagar-based Chinar Corps had posted on social media: "Based on specific intelligence inputs, alert #ChinarWarriors, in a joint operation with @JmuKmrPolice, intercepted the individual and prevented any potential security breach."
The incident highlights the Indian Army's professionalism and adherence to humanitarian principles even in sensitive border areas.
