Amid escalating tensions, a Pakistani national has been apprehended from the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, Army officials said on Tuesday.
Further investigation is underway. This comes after another Pakistani national was detained by Border Security Force (BSF) troops after he illegally crossed the border in the Gurdaspur area of Punjab, an official said on Monday.
According to a senior BSF officer, the troops were on patrolling duty when they detained the individual on the intervening night of May 3- 4. The individual has been handed over to the Punjab Police for further investigation. The BSF is the primary force responsible for guarding the 3,323 km long India-Pakistan border, spanning the states of Jammu and Kashmir (including parts of the LoC), Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. This border is one of the most sensitive and volatile in the country, due to historical tensions and ongoing security challenges.
On April 23, Pakistan Rangers detained a BSF trooper after he inadvertently crossed the International Border near Punjab’s Firozpur. The incident occurred while a BSF trooper crossed the border to provide security to local farmers working near the fence.
According to initial reports, the trooper unintentionally stepped into Pakistani territory. Following the incident, BSF issued a strict advisory to Jawans to be alert and vigilant during border patrol.
A senior BSF officer confirmed that, although the advisory has been part of their regular briefing, after Pakistani Rangers detained the jawan during patrolling duty, all patrolling parties have been instructed to be extra cautious during duty. Amid ongoing tension at the border, jawans have been asked to be extra cautious and avoid inadvertently crossing the border during patrol duty. Even the farmers working on farms at the borders have been asked to be vigilant,” the officer added. Another BSF officer said that such incidents are common in the Punjab border where jawans from both sides often cross the border inadvertently and issues are used to get resolved in a single flag meeting, but this time Pakistan is not turning up for the meeting despite several attempts.
“Pakistan is not responding because of ongoing tension after the Pahalgam attack, but we have lodged our protest with the Pak Rangers and are making all efforts to bring back the jawan,” the officer added.
