In a humanitarian gesture, Pakistan has returned the body of a nine-year-old boy from Ladakh who had drowned in the Suru River in Kargil. The body was recovered across the border and later handed over to Indian authorities.
Kargil-based political leader Sajjad Kargili said he was “deeply heartened” by the return of the mortal remains of Zulqarnain Ali. The handover took place at the Teetwal Keran border crossing in north Kashmir.
“We appreciate the humanitarian gesture shown by the administrations on both sides. Humanity must always prevail over hostility,” he said.
Kargili stressed the need for a formal mechanism between India and Pakistan to facilitate such exchanges, proposing the establishment of a dedicated meeting point at the Kargil–Kharmang border.
He noted that in the absence of such a system, similar incidents in the past have led to bodies being buried across the border. Highlighting the long-standing emotional toll, he said families in Ladakh and Baltistan have endured decades of separation.
“It is tragic that not only the living remain separated, but even the deceased are often denied a dignified return to their loved ones. Establishing a humanitarian coordination point on the Kargil border is no longer optional — it is a moral and humanitarian necessity,” he said.
The incident occurred when two children drowned in the Suru River near Hundarman. While one body was recovered immediately, the second was traced later across the border in Baltistan.