ISLAMABAD, July 19: Indian forces on Tuesday handed over 64 years old Faqir Hussain to Pakistani authorities during a flag meeting of local commanders at the line of control (LoC). Earlier on Monday, Pakistan had lodged a strong protest with the Indian authorities for crossing the LoC in Kotli sector and kidnapping the man from about 250 yards inside the Pakistani territory.

Sources, while quoting Faqir Hussain, said the Indian authorities had interrogated him during the detention before handing him over to Pakistani authorities.

Sources claimed that he was pressurised by the Indian authorities to state that he accidentally crossed the LoC and had not been kidnapped by the Indian forces.

DG ISPR Maj Gen Shaukat Sultan was not available for comments despite repeated attempts till filing of the report.

Meanwhile, media in India quoted an army spokesman as saying Indian troops had not crossed the LoC. An army official, however, admitted that Pakistan’s Director-General of Military Operations had spoken to his Indian counterpart on Monday.