Ten days after a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan inadvertently crossed into Pakistan from the Ferozepur sector, hopes for his return have been reignited following the capture of a Pakistani ranger inside Indian territory on Saturday.
On Saturday, the Pakistani ranger Khwaja Mir was apprehended by a BSF patrol team at Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district. He had, reportedly, crossed into Indian territory from Fort Abbas, a small town located in Pakistan's Cholistan desert.
“A patrolling team of the BSF noticed the intruder and immediately detained him upon confirming he had entered from the Pakistani side,” said a BSF officer stationed in Jaisalmer, adding, “The matter is now being handled by higher authorities, who will determine the next course of action.”
BSF sources believe the detention of the Mir could serve as leverage to expedite the return of their captured colleague Purnam Sahu.
“We have been urging Pakistan to hold a flag meeting regarding Purnam, but they’ve remained completely unresponsive. Now that one of their personnel is in our custody, we expect them to initiate communication,” said another BSF officer.
The BSF has not yet made an official announcement regarding the Pakistani ranger’s capture, but internal discussions suggest a strategic move is underway to use the situation as a diplomatic and tactical opportunity to bring back Purnam.
According to BSF sources, Purnam has been in the custody of Pakistani forces since crossing the international border on April 23 under unclear circumstances.
Despite repeated efforts by the BSF to initiate dialogue through a flag meeting, Pakistani authorities have remained unresponsive.
The capture of the Pakistani ranger has shifted the dynamics, underscoring the fragile and often volatile nature of India-Pakistan border relations. With both nations maintaining heightened vigilance along the frontier, even unintentional or isolated incursions can quickly escalate if not handled with prompt communication and transparency.
As of now, the fate of Purnam remains uncertain, but the Indian security establishment is cautiously optimistic that his return may now be within reach.
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