Pakistan returns Indian border guard

AFP | NewDelhi

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

India Pakistan returned a captured border guard to India yesterday, in a fresh sign of detente after a ceasefire ended four days of conflict between the nuclear-armed rivals.

The guard was captured a day after an April attack in Indian-administered Kashmir which killed 26 people and sparked tit-for-tat missile, drone and fighter jet attacks.

“Purnam Kumar Shaw, who had been in the custody of Pakistan Rangers since 23 April 2025, was handed over to India,” India’s Border Security Force said in a statement.

The handover was “conducted peacefully and in accordance with established protocols,” it added.

Shaw’s wife Rajani had earlier told the Indian Express newspaper that she was confident he would come back after the ceasefire was announced.

“I had lost all hope,” Rajani Shaw, who is pregnant, said. “But after the ceasefire, I became a bit positive, and I have full faith in God that my husband will return safely.”

Despite mutual claims on initial violations, the ceasefire still appeared to be holding on Wednesday.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a televised address to the nation Monday that Pakistan had chosen to attack rather than help it fight “terrorism”. “If another terrorist attack against India is carried out, a strong response will be given,” he said.

Modi wrote on X Tuesday that he had met with service members involved in the conflict.

“It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation,” he said.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that it rejected Modi’s “provocative and inflammatory assertions” and his “propensity to fabricate misleading narratives to justify aggression”.

“Make no mistake, we will closely monitor India’s actions and behaviour in this regard in the coming days. We also urge the international community to do the same,” it added.