India hands over two Pakistani youths officials

Indian authorities on Friday handed over two Pakistani teenagers who were suspected of helping in an attack on an army camp in India-controlled Kashmir last September, officials said.

The youth were released after the Indian investigators cleared them of charges, according to the Pakistan Foreign Ministry's spokesman.

Faisal Hussain Awan and Ahsan Khursheed, who crossed the Wahga border in the afternoon, were received by some of their family members.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said earlier the Indian investigators found nothing against them.

The youth, who belong to Pakistan-administered Kashmir, had mistakenly crossed the Line of Control (LoC) into India-controlled Kashmir on Sept. 21, just three days after the attack.

The attack which left 19 Indian soldiers dead was initially blamed on Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammad but later Indian investigators said Lashkar-e-Taiba was behind the deadly attack.

Relatives told the media that their months of mental agonies ended after Awan and Khursheed rejoined family. They were, however, seemed upset at the photographs showing them blindfold ahead of their repatriation to Pakistan.

Awan's brother Ghulam Mohiuddin told the media that he was in contact with the Pakistan High Commission's officials in New Delhi, who made efforts to secure the release of the youth.

Mohiuddin said their stance that the boys were innocent was endorsed by the Indian investigators.

Khursheed's mother celebrated the release of son and thanked the Pakistani government for efforts.

Source: Xinhua