In a rare display of cooperation, Pakistan and India exchanged detained military personnel at the Wagah-Attari border on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. The mutual handover, seen as a positive step amid lingering tensions, involved the return of a Pakistani Rangers official and an Indian Border Security Force (BSF) constable.
BSF constable Purnam Kumar Shaw had been in Pakistani custody since April 23 after unintentionally crossing the border near the Ganda Singh Wala area in the Ferozepur sector. In a parallel incident, Pakistani Rangers official Muhammadullah had been detained in India under similar circumstances.
The exchange took place at around 10:30 AM at the Joint Check Post in Attari, Amritsar, and was conducted in accordance with standard cross-border protocols. The peaceful transfer followed several meetings between border officials from both countries.
Officials from the BSF confirmed the repatriation, noting that both sides showed readiness to resolve such issues through communication and established procedures.
Though symbolic, this exchange may help reduce friction and open channels for more constructive dialogue between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Such actions have been uncommon in recent years and could signal a willingness to de-escalate in the aftermath of recent military tensions.
