Pakistan Arrests Indian Border Guard

Pakistani security forces have arrested an Indian border guard for allegedly violating their de-facto border in the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir, officials said Thursday.

"An Indian national has been arrested who crossed into Pakistani territory," a senior official from the paramilitary rangers told AFP without elaborating on the circumstances of the arrest or the exact location.

Tasnim Aslam, a spokeswoman for Pakistan's foreign ministry, confirmed the incident, which occurred on Wednesday.

"Yes, we have arrested an Indian border security official. He is currently under investigation and being treated very well," she told a press briefing.

"A contact between the militaries of two countries was made yesterday and another contact is expected soon. If he is not linked with any matter harming our security, and appears clear in the investigation, he may be released," she added.

Indian foreign ministry officials met Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner on Thursday and requested the guard be released as quickly as possible.

"Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner met us after our request. We asked him to ensure that the process of releasing our border security force guard is expedited," Indian foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin told AFP.

He said that a similar request was also made by Indian officials in Islamabad.

The two countries have fought two of their three wars as well as a smaller conflict over the territory, one of the most militarized zones in the world.

About a dozen rebel groups have been fighting Indian forces in the Muslim-majority region since 1989 for Kashmir to be made independent or incorporated into Pakistan.