It will take some days to bring back soldier in Pakistan custody: Manohar Parrikar

PUNE: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said it will take "some days" to bring back Army jawan Chandu Babulal Chavan, who is in Pakistan's custody after inadvertently crossing over, but a well established mechanism through the DGMO has been activated to secure his release.

"He had crossed over which happens in border areas. There is a well established mechanism through DGMO (Director General of Military Operations) which has been activated," he told reporters here.

"Since the situation is tense right now, it will take some days to bring the soldier back," the Minister, who was here to inaugurate a cleanliness drive in a cantonment area, said.

The Defence Minister said there is no relation between the surgical strike carried out by the Army in PoK and the soldier crossing the border inadvertently.

On September 30, Chavan from 37 RR had inadvertently crossed over to the other side of the Line of Control following which Pakistan had been informed by the DGMO on the hotline.

"Such inadvertent crossing by Army and civilians are not unusual on either side. They are returned through existing mechanisms," the army had said.

On Friday, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had called up the family of the solider and assured them that efforts are being made to secure his release. Chavan's grandmother had passed away after hearing the news of his crossing over to Pakistan.

Parrikar also said that people should remain alert and report anything unusual to the police.