Pakistan accepts Indian jawan is in its custody, weeks after he crossed border: Reports
The neighbouring country’s DGMO is believed to have spoken to his Indian counterpart over the official hotline.
Pakistan on Thursday officially confirmed that Indian soldier Chandu Babulal Chavan was in its custody, two weeks after he had crossed the border on the day India announced it had conducted surgical strikes along the Line of Control, multiple agencies reported. There has been confusion about Chavan’s whereabouts since September 29, with unnamed officials from both countries suggesting he is in Pakistan, but no official word from the neighbouring country.
Pakistan’s military has now conveyed the information to India through the hotline, The Indian Express reported. India’s Director General Military Operations Lt General Ranbir Singh had used the same channel to inform Pakistan about Chavan’s movements.
Chavan, who belonged to the 37 Rashtriya Rifles, had crossed the LoC with a weapon. His grandmother had suffered a cardiac arrest and died after the news was broken to the family. India had said that soldiers inadvertently crossing the border was fairly common and the official mechanisms had been put in place to bring Chavan back.