10 August 2004	Tuesday	23 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

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LAHORE, Aug 9: Pakistan and India on Monday swapped six prisoners, including three soldiers arrested during the Kargil conflict, here at the Wagah border.

The Pakistan Rangers did not allow media personnel into the area where the swap ceremony was held, and reporters were left with no option but to watch the event through digital electronic camera's zoom.

The camera zooms showed para-military forces from both sides exchanging the prisoners. Pakistan handed over two prisoners of the Kargil war and India returned four, including one held during the war.

Jagsir Singh and Mohammed Arif Khan of India were the first to reach the border, who had been brought by a team of Pakistani and Indian officials. They had to wait for around an hour for the Indian officials to bring Pakistani prisoners on the other side.

The only Pakistani soldier among the four returned by India was identified as Saleem Ali Shah and three civilians as Ibrar Khan, 15, Rashid Minhas, 14, and Nawabuddin. The two teenaged boys from Kashmir and the third from Punjab had strayed across the border in 2003.

Nobody, including the families of the two teenaged boys, was allowed to meet the prisoners, although the families remained in the very area where the ceremony was held.

Ibrar's father Muhammad Saddiq told Dawn that it was very difficult for him and his son to wait anymore, but the forces did not allow them even to speak to each other. "However, I am glad that my son is back. Its a new life for me and my son as my son had been with the enemies."

Amanullah, the father of the other boy, said he would like to see India and Pakistan as friends. "This is the only way of our survival." Later, the prisoners returned to Pakistan were whisked away in two army jeeps. The jeeps passed by the reporters and photographers with such a speed that nobody could take a snap.

Javed Naqvi adds from New Delhi: The two prisoners freed by Pakistan on Monday crossed the Wagah border to an emotional welcome by friends and relatives, but their ordeal is far from over.

The Indian army said it planned to grill them about how they managed to get captured during the Kargil conflict. Lance Naik Jagsir Singh and Sapper Mohammed Arif were turned over after five years. They were captured after apparently straying into the Pakistan side of the Line of Control in Kashmir.

Indian officials said they were exchanged for four Pakistanis including soldier Salim Shah, who was lodged in Amritsar jail since 1999. Pakistani officials presented the soldiers with gifts before they crossed over to India.

"The army will investigate whether Jagsir Singh and Mohammed Arif crossed over to Pakistan from the LoC inadvertently or intentionally and how they were nabbed in Pakistan in 1999," Deputy General Officer Panther Division Brigadier V. K. Chonna told reporters at the Wagah border.

"No doubt last time Lance Naik Jagsir Singh and Sapper Mohammed Arif were seen in the township of Drass sector in post-Kargil operation on Indian side," he said after a widely-televised ceremony to mark their arrival from Lahore.

Arif, who was called to the Kargil front about 10 days after his marriage, has lost his mother and wife during his captivity. His mother died while waiting for him and the young bride was remarried with the consent of family members.

Unlike Arif, Singh returned to a happier family who evidently did not lose their hope. Brig Chonna said the two would not be able to join their families since the army rules require them to take a complete medical check-up.

Then their debriefing will include an investigation into how they strayed into the Pakistan territory. "After a through investigation, they may be able to join back their respective units in the army and hopefully after one week both would be allowed to go on leave to join their families," he said.

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