BSF sepoy's family awaits his release

RAJATAL, Indo-Pak border: The relatives of prisoners of war (POW) apprehended during the Indo-Pak conflicts are once again hopeful of their loved ones being released, following the announcement of Pakistan prime minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali that 300 Indian POWs would be released as part of a road map to holding talks with India.
Twenty prisoners who have been languishing in various Pak jails are likely to be released in the near future.On Thursday, TNN located one such family living in the remote village of Rajatal, near the Indo-Pak border, who are eagerly awaiting the return of Joginder Singh, who went missing during the Indo-Pak conflict of 1971.
Joginder served as sepoy in the 21 Battalion of Border Security Force. His daughter Harjit Kaur told TNN that he was captured by the Pakistani army while returning from his post at Dera Baba Nanak (Gurdaspur) in 1971. She said that the soldiers of the Pakistani army tied his hands with his turban, put him in a jeep, and took to Pakistan.
She said the family came to know that Joginder Singh was in Multan jail of Pakistan from one Ishaq Massiah, resident of Dharamkot village, who was released by Pakistan government along with seven other prisoners some time back.
"We want that the atmosphere between two countries should be cordial, and the residents of both countries, incarcerated in jails, should be reunited with their loved ones," she added.
Joginder''s wife Kashmir Kaur, tears in her eyes, appealed to the Pakistan government to contact them if there was any confusion over identifying her husband.