New Delhi [India]: Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF), Daljit Chawdhary, met Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan on Friday to provide an update on the ongoing situation following the detention of BSF constable Purab Kumar Shaw by Pakistan Rangers.
The meeting, which lasted over 30 minutes at the Ministry of Home Affairs’ North Block office, comes amid heightened diplomatic and military sensitivities along the Indo-Pak border, following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 tourists.
Constable Shaw, who was in uniform and armed with his service rifle, had been providing security to farmers near the border in Punjab’s Ferozepur when he inadvertently crossed into Pakistani territory. According to officials, he had stepped forward to rest in a shaded area when he was detained by Pakistan Rangers on Wednesday afternoon.
While such incidents are not uncommon along the sensitive and volatile 3,323 km-long India-Pakistan border, officials emphasized the importance of securing the safe return of the jawan. So far, three flag meetings have been held between the BSF and Pakistan Rangers, but no breakthrough has been achieved.
The BSF is tasked with guarding the entire Indo-Pak border, which spans across Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, and frequently faces operational challenges due to cross-border infiltration, ceasefire violations, and terrorist activities.
This incident comes at a delicate time, as India has taken several stern measures against Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, diplomatic downsizing, and closure of border check-posts, reflecting India’s escalating response to Pakistan’s support for cross-border terrorism.