Seven days have passed since Border Security Force (BSF) constable PK Sahu, attached to the 182nd Battalion, was taken into custody by Pakistan Rangers after he inadvertently stepped across the India-Pakistan border near Firozpur, Punjab. Yet, despite routine engagements between the two forces, Pakistani authorities have consistently refused to release him, attributing the delay to “awaiting instructions from top officials.”
High-level sources revealed to News18 that each of the seven brief meetings—averaging around 15 minutes—has ended with the same justification from the Pakistani side: no directive has been issued from Islamabad’s senior command.
“We’re speaking to them daily, but the response remains unchanged—they say they’ve not received a green signal from their higher-ups,” a senior BSF official disclosed. “They claim to be following up, yet there has been zero movement on their part to facilitate his return.”
In the latest session held on Wednesday, Pakistan Rangers once again reiterated their now routine statement: “We regret the delay, but no clearance has come from our superiors.”
Indian officials have emphasized that the jawan barely crossed 1–2 meters into Pakistani territory—a scenario that, under usual circumstances, could have been resolved swiftly with mutual understanding. Historically, such accidental crossings have led to quick, cordial handovers. However, this instance has dragged on for a week with no resolution in sight, raising concerns about deliberate stalling by Pakistan.
The ongoing deadlock comes amid soaring India-Pakistan tensions in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam massacre in Jammu and Kashmir, where gunmen associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba’s proxy group, The Resistance Front (TRF), attacked a group of tourists, killing 26 people, including several foreign nationals.
Following the attack, New Delhi has intensified its diplomatic and military posture, and analysts believe Pakistan’s hesitancy in releasing the detained jawan may be politically motivated.
