Chandu Babulal Chavan

'inadvertently' crossed over into PoK

had sought Chavan's release

NEW DELHI: In a change of tack, the government will diplomatically pursue the release of, the Indian soldier whoon September 29, the day Indian Army's surgical strikes took place on terror launch pads across LoC.This is significant because until now only the Indian army DGMO (Director General of Military Operations), Ranbir Singh,from his Pakistan counterpart. Official sources said since the Pakistan army had not responded to the plea that Chavan be released, the government felt it was important that the matter be taken up with the Pakistan foreign ministry.The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had so far kept away from Chavan's case, allowing the army to handle the situation.A 37 Rashtriya Rifles sepoy, Chavan was posted in the Mendhar sector in J&K when he was reported missing hours after the surgical strikes. On October 2, defence minister Manohar Parrikar had said that a 'well established mechanism through the DGMO' had been activated to seek Chavan's release. He had also said that since the situation was tense, it would take some time to bring him back.India has denied any link between the surgical strikes and the disappearance of Chavan. The army has asserted that such inadvertent crossings by soldiers and civilians are not unusual and that there are existing mechanisms to ensure their return.The army had hoped that Pakistan would return Chavan, a resident of Dhule in Maharashtra, despite the military standoff. "Now that there is no response from the Pakistan army, the matter is being strongly taken up with the Pakistan foreign ministry," said a source.Pakistan had initially denied that Chavan was in its custody. On October 13 though, Indian government officials had said that the Pakistan DGMO had acknowledged that Chavan was in their custody and that he was being interrogated.MEA is already seeking consular access to Indian 'spy' Kulbhushan Jadhav , who was allegedly arrested from Balochistan in March this year and booked for terrorism, but despite having issued 6 note verbale , it has failed to elicit any response from the Pakistan foreign ministry.Chavan's family had earlier expressed fear that he might be tortured while in custody. "We are worried they will torture him, and tell him lies that the army doesn't care about him. That could drive him to take his own life," Bhushan Chavan, the captured soldier's brother and a soldier of Maratha Light Infantry, had said.