Pakistan Urges India To Return Soldier

Islamabad, Feb, 16, IRNA – Pakistan military Friday asked the Indian authorities to return the soldier, who mistakenly crossed into Indian part of Kashmir late last night, or his body if he is killed. The Pakistan Army on Thursday said that one of its soldiers had inadvertently crossed the Line of Control (LoC), which divides the two countries in the disputed Kashmir region. “A Pakistan army soldier, Sepoy Ikhlaq resident of Kallar Syedan (in Punjab), who lost his way last night and inadvertently crossed the LoC in Khoi Ratta sector, has reportedly been killed by Indians,” Pakistan military sources said. The sources told the media that contact is being established with Indian authorities for return of soldier or dead body in case he is killed The latest incident is likely to heighten tension again that was subsided following escalations along the LoC last month after both countries accused each other of violating the 2003 ceasefire. Both sides had lost at least five soldiers last month. Pakistan had proposed UN inquiry into the violations but Indian rejected the proposal. Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar says that Pakistan has contacted the UN military Observer Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) and proposed investigation after India alleged that Pakistan had violated the ceasefire. ˈPakistan abides by the ceasefire and follows the mechanism to deal with such kinds of issues,ˈ she had said in Islamabad after Delhi’s accusation that one of its soldiers was beheaded./end