The central government has decided to resort to diplomatic means to bring back an Indian soldier held captive in Pakistan. India will raise the matter of Chandu Babulal Chavan's release with the Pakistan Foreign Office, after Director General of Military Operations Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh's efforts saw no response from the neighbouring country. "Now that there is no response from the Pakistani Army, the matter is being strongly taken up with the Pakistan Foreign Ministry," an official told The Times of India.

Chavan had strayed across the Kashmir border on September 29, the day the Indian Army had conducted surgical strikes along the Line of Control with Pakistan. However, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had clarified that the 37 Rashtriya Rifles jawan had not taken part in the operation. The Indian Army had said that such "inadvertent crossing" by soldiers and civilians was not unusual.

The Army man's family had expressed concern that Chavan would be tortured in custody. "We are worried they will torture him and tell him lies that the Army does not care about him. That could drive him to take his own life," Bhushan Chavan, his brother and a soldier of the Maratha Light Infantry, had said.

Earlier, Home Affairs Minister Rajnath Singh had said India was making all attempts to free the Indian soldier who was captured by the Pakistani Army.