MUZAFFARABAD – In a shocking and sad incident, a 52-year-old Pakistani woman was shot dead by Indian forces after she had inadvertently crossed the working boundary near Sialkot on Thursday night.
“The victim, Rashida Bibi, mistakenly entered India where she was gunned down by the Indian forces,” reported Dunya TV on Saturday.
Later, the Indian forces contacted the Pakistan Rangers officials to hand over the dead body of Rashida Bibi.
On September 11, 2015, Pakistan Army returned a woman, as a goodwill gesture, to Indian authorities after she had inadvertently crossed the Line of Control (LoC).
Shamim Akhtar, a resident of Nakarkot village in Poonch district was handed over to concerned authorities in Satwal Sector along the Rawalakot LoC.
Shamim mistakenly crossed over to the Pakistan side of LoC at Chakoti Sector on August 25.
Similarly, on January 21, 2017, Indian soldier Chandu Babulal Chohan had been returned to his home country via the Wagah Border. The Indian soldier was handed over to BSF officials at the border along with his official gun and a box of sweets.
He had crossed the border after getting into a fight with his seniors.
The goodwill gesture comes amid mounting tensions at the LoC where unprovoked firing by the Indian Army has resulted in scores of deaths including at least seven Pakistani soldiers.
Pakistan could have chosen to keep the Indian soldier and use him as a bargaining tool. However, his return is a gesture that should be appreciated by the Indian government.