Key points
- Handover “conducted peacefully and in accordance with established protocols”
- Indian Border Security Force confirm return of their personnel
- Truce between nuclear-armed neighbours holds on
ISLAMABAD: A step towards easing tensions between Pakistan and India took place on Wednesday as one prisoner from each side was exchanged at the Wagah-Attari border.
Indian authorities handed over a paramilitary personnel named Muhammad Allah while Pakistani officials returned Purnam Kumar Shao, an Indian Border Security Force.
A ceasefire reached on May 10 ended four days of conflict between the nuclear-armed rivals.
Confirmation
Indian Border Security Force confirmed the return of their personnel in a statement.
“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.
“I had lost hope”
“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.”
On Tuesday, Pakistan’s army announced a new death toll from the fighting, saying India’s “unprovoked and reprehensible dastardly attacks” killed 40 civilians, including seven women and 15 children, and 11 military service members.
India has said that 15 civilians and five soldiers died.
Despite mutual claims on initial violations, the ceasefire still appeared to be holding on Wednesday.
The flare-up in violence was the worst since the rivals’ last open conflict in 1999 and sparked global shudders that it could spiral into full-blown war.
