August 18, 2005	Thursday	Rajab 12, 1426

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MUZAFFARABAD, Aug 17: A proposed flag meeting between officials of the Pakistani and Indian army in the Leepa Valley for return of two AJK citizens who had mistakenly crossed the Line of Control could not be held, military sources said.

Mohammad Waqar, 13, and Abdur Rauf, 30, had strayed across the LoC on Saturday afternoon while herding cattle near Ghaipura village in the south-eastern Leepa Valley, some 100km from here, and were arrested by Indian troops, according to official sources.

In the wake of the incident, Pakistan army had proposed a flag meeting to pave way for their early release and safe return.

However, military sources told Dawn that there had not been any response from the Indians in this regard by Monday evening.

They expressed the hope that the Indians would shortly release the innocent detainees on humanitarian grounds.

Residents of border areas in Kashmir often stray into the opposite part while doing different labours such as cutting fodder or fuel wood or herding their cattle along the unmarked dividing line and mostly land in prisons on the opposite sides.

Late last month a woman, who had left her home in a huff after a brawl with her husband, also crossed the LoC in the Leepa valley, but was returned by the Indian troops within six hours as they did not find anything objectionable in her possession.

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