NEW DELHI (Diya TV) — Tensions between India and Pakistan continue to simmer along the border after the Border Security Force (BSF) apprehended a Pakistani Ranger in Rajasthan on Saturday, nearly two weeks after an Indian soldier accidentally crossed into Pakistani territory and was detained.
According to BSF sources, the Pakistani Ranger was taken into custody by personnel from the Rajasthan frontier. While the identity and circumstances surrounding the Ranger’s capture have not been publicly disclosed, officials confirmed the development to multiple media outlets, including PTI and ANI. The incident comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions following a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians—most of them tourists—on April 22.
The latest cross-border detainment appears linked to the earlier capture of BSF Constable Purnam Kumar Shaw by Pakistan Rangers. Shaw was apprehended on April 23 in Punjab after inadvertently crossing the international border, reportedly while escorting local farmers near the Ferozepur sector. Indian officials stated that he moved ahead to rest under a tree and unintentionally crossed into Pakistani territory. He was in uniform and carrying his service weapon when detained.
Despite established cross-border protocols for handling such incidents—often resolved through routine flag meetings—Pakistan has refused to return Shaw. The Indian government has issued a strong protest and launched a formal inquiry into the matter. “Despite multiple flag meetings and repeated diplomatic efforts, Pakistan remains non-committal on Shaw’s release,” a senior BSF official told PTI. The officer added that such crossings have historically been addressed swiftly and amicably, making this delay particularly concerning.
Photos circulating on Pakistani social media, reportedly verified by Indian officials, show Constable Shaw blindfolded inside a vehicle and later standing with his rifle, loaded magazine, and gear laid out on the ground.
India sees Pakistan’s intransigence as politically motivated, especially in light of the April 22 terrorist attack. New Delhi has accused Pakistan of harboring and enabling terror outfits that operate across the border. In retaliation, the Indian government has announced a slew of punitive measures: suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, cancelling visas, halting bilateral trade, banning Pakistani flights from Indian airspace, and imposing additional export restrictions.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level security meeting following the Pahalgam massacre and granted the Indian Armed Forces “full operational freedom” to respond to cross-border threats. “India will not tolerate provocation,” a senior official said during the briefing.
In response to the growing strain, the BSF has issued a new advisory to its troops, urging heightened caution during border patrols. Personnel have been asked to avoid straying beyond the Line of Control, and local farmers working near the fence have also been told to remain alert.
