TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Pakistan returned an Indian border guard who was captured on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, as a new sign of detente after a ceasefire ended the four-day armed hostilities between the two neighbors.
The guard was captured a day after the April attack in India-controlled Kashmir, which killed 26 people. The attack triggered missile strikes, drones, and Indian fighter jet attacks on Pakistan.
No group claimed responsibility for the April 22 attack, but India blamed Pakistan for backing it, something the country denied. Islamabad also has called for an independent investigation.
"Purnam Kumar Shaw, who had been in the custody of Pakistan Rangers since April 23, was handed over to India," said the Indian Border Security Force in a statement as reported by Channel NewsAsia.
The handover was conducted "peacefully and in accordance with the established protocols," they added.
Shaw's wife, Rajani, had previously told the Indian Express newspaper that she believed her husband would return.
"I had lost all hope," said Rajani Shaw, who is pregnant. "But after the ceasefire, I became a bit positive, and I have full faith in God that my husband will return safely."
On Tuesday, the Pakistani military announced a new death toll from the conflict, stating that India's "unprovoked and reprehensible dastardly attacks" had killed 40 civilians, including seven women and 15 children, as well as 13 military personnel.
India said 15 civilians and five soldiers were killed in the clashes.
Despite mutual claims of initial violations, the ceasefire appeared to be holding on Wednesday.
The outbreak of violence was the worst since the last open conflict between the two countries in 1999, raising global concerns it could escalate into a full-blown war.
The Pakistani military said it had shot down five Indian jets, but has not acknowledged any losses of its own aircraft.
India has not disclosed any losses of its aircraft.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a televised address to the nation on Monday that Pakistan had chosen to attack rather than help him fight "terrorism."
"If another terrorist attack against India is carried out, a strong response will be given," he said.
Pakistan's foreign ministry said in a statement that it rejected Modi's "provocative and inflammatory assertions" and his tendency to fabricate misleading narratives to justify aggression.
"Make no mistake, we will closely monitor India's actions and behavior in this regard in the coming days. We also urge the international community to do the same," Pakistan's Foreign Ministry emphasized.
Militants have stepped up operations in the Indian-administered Kashmir since 2019, when Hindu nationalist Modi's government revoked the region's limited autonomy and imposed direct rule from New Delhi.
The majority-Muslim Kashmir, claimed in full by both countries, has seen several wars since they gained independence from British rule in 1947.
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