Positive sign: Pakistan hands over Kashmiri woman

“Shamim inadvertently crossed over to Pakistani side of LoC at the Chakoti sector on August 25,” the ISPR added

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Army on Friday handed over to the Indian authorities a woman who inadvertently crossed the Line of Control (LoC) from the disputed Kashmir territory in a rare sign of goodwill amid ongoing tensions between the two neighbours.

“As a goodwill gesture, Shamim Akhtar, a resident of Nakarkot village in Poonch district was handed over to the concerned authorities in Satwal sector along the Rawalakot [sector of] LoC,” said a statement issued here by the military’s media wing.

“Shamim inadvertently crossed over to Pakistani side of LoC at the Chakoti sector on August 25,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) added.

The exchange took place at a time when relations between the two countries are at the lowest ebb due to tensions along the LoC and working boundary. It also coincided with talks between the senior military officials from Pakistan and India in New Delhi to discuss the current situation along the border.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th, 2015.