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| 09 August 2004 | Monday | 22 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425 |
Pakistan, India to swap Kargil prisoners
AMRITSAR, Aug 8: India and Pakistan will Monday exchange three soldiers captured during a conflict in disputed Kashmir's Kargil region five years ago, a military official said.
"The Indian army will hand over Pakistani soldier Salim Ali Shah and similarly Pakistan will repatriate two Indian army soldiers, Jagsir Singh and Mohammed Arif," Indian army spokesman Naresh Vij said here Sunday.
The exchange will take place at Wagah, a town halfway between Lahore and the Indian city of Amritsar that is the only legal crossing between the rival neighbours.
Pakistan and India began a peace process last year and have moved to repatriate each other's nationals, particularly fishermen and other civilians who were jailed for straying past the border.
Vij said the soldiers to be handed over Monday were captured during the 1999 conflict in Kargil, where 1,000 people died over four months. Vij said the Indian army planned a welcome ceremony for the returning soldiers Monday but that the duo would have to wait a week to be reunited with their families as they undergo medical tests and other formalities. -AFP
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