Rare Moment At LoC: Indian, Pakistani Army Officers Shake Hands As Boy Returns Home

Last Updated:June 20, 2026, 17:57 IST

A Pakistani boy who inadvertently crossed into Kupwara was handed back at the Teetwal crossing, where officers from both armies exchanged a rare handshake.

In a rare and heartening scene along the heavily militarised Line of Control, army officers from India and Pakistan exchanged a handshake during the repatriation of a young boy who had inadvertently crossed into Indian territory in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

The exchange took place at the Teetwal crossing point in Kupwara yesterday, where the child was formally handed over to Pakistani authorities in accordance with established military procedures and humanitarian protocols. The gesture, captured in a photograph shared by the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps, stood out against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor last year.

According to officials, the boy, identified as Asad Khan, a resident of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), had accidentally crossed the LoC near Simari village in Karnah and was subsequently taken into custody by the security forces. After his identity was verified and coordination was carried out through military channels, arrangements were made for his safe return to his family. Similar humanitarian exchanges have taken place in the past when civilians, particularly children, have inadvertently strayed across the Line of Control.

“During his stay in India, Asad Khan was treated with dignity and compassion, reflecting the Indian Army’s unwavering commitment to humanitarian values and conduct. His safe repatriation underscores the Indian Army’s ethos, responsibility and adherence to the highest standards of military professionalism," the Indian Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps posted on X.

What made the occasion particularly significant was the image of officers from the two rival armies greeting each other with a handshake — a gesture seldom witnessed in recent years, particularly since the Pahalgam terror attack. The moment assumes added significance in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor and the heightened military tensions that followed between India and Pakistan.

Major-rank officers, local police teams and others from both sides were present at Teetwal Bridge, a significant crossing point over the Kishanganga River.

On June 9, another boy from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, identified as Javid Ali, son of Mohd Sharaz and a resident of Tetrinote Mohallah Jabri, was repatriated after he was apprehended by the army while crossing the Poonch River near Salotri village in Haveli tehsil.

During recent India-Pakistan cricket encounters, players from both sides avoided customary handshakes and cordial exchanges.

About the Author

Ieshan Wani

Ieshan Wani, senior correspondent, CNN-News18, has over eight years of experience in reporting, producing and editing news for broadcast, digital and print platforms. His reporting has mostly been fro...Read More

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