Off the wire
• 1st LD Writethru: Rosetta completes 12-year space mission:ESA  • UNHCR appoints special envoy on Somali refugee situation  • Cibulkova, Kvitova into Wuhan Open final  • China to retain prudent monetary policy: central bank  • Chinese FM to visit Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia  • Commentary: S. Korea needs to change its decision on THAAD, instead of site  • Irish police seize 1.2 million euro cannabis  • WTA Wuhan Open results  • Japanese PM says confident about making progress in territorial negotiations with Russia  • Drug dealers sentenced to death in NE China  
You are here: 　 Home

India seeks release of trooper captured by Pakistan near Kashmir LoC

Xinhua, September 30, 2016 Adjust font size:

India has sought urgent release of one of its troopers captured by the Pakistan army near the Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir, officials said Friday.

The trooper, according to Indian army, has "inadvertently" crossed LoC and entered Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.

Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh told media in New Delhi that all efforts were being made to secure the release of the captured trooper.

"The government has taken note of the reports which stated that an Indian soldier is in Pakistan's captivity," Singh told reporters. "New Delhi will take up the matter with Islamabad for his early release."

According to Indian media reports the captured trooper was identified as 22-year-old Chandu Babulal Chauhan.

Chauhan's captivity with Pakistan army came hours after India announced that it carried out deadly "surgical strikes" inside Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.

Indian officials said Chauhan's crossing over was not related to the "surgical strikes".

Though Pakistan is yet to confirm the capture of Indian trooper, however, a local newspaper - Dawn reported that an Indian trooper was captured.

India's Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen Ranbir Singh said during the "surgical strikes" Wednesday night significant casualties were inflicted on infiltrators and their supporters and that the Indian side has not suffered any casualty or damage.

Pakistan, however, rejected Indian claims about "surgical strikes" inside Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.

A statement issued by Pakistan military's Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said two Pakistani troopers were killed due to unprovoked firing early Thursday from Indian troops across LoC in Bhimber, hotspring, Kel, and Lipa sectors .

LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts.

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated because of the ongoing civilian protests in Indian-controlled Kashmir and a deadly attack last week on an Indian army base in frontier Uri town, about 109 km northwest of capital city - Srinagar. The attack killed 18 troopers and wounded over 20 others.

New Delhi blames Islamabad for fanning Kashmir protests and accuses it of sending armed militants into Indian-controlled Kashmir, an accusation Islamabad strongly rejects. Endit