India Rejects Report of Soldier’s Kidnapping, Says He's ‘Safe’

“Clarification. Media reports of the abduction of a serving Army soldier on leave from Qazipora, Chadoora, Budgam are incorrect. Individual is safe. Speculations may please be avoided,” an Indian Defense Ministry spokesperson tweeted on Saturday.

On Friday, senior police sources told Sputnik that Indian infantryman Mohammad Yaseen Bhat had been abducted from his residence in the village of Qazipora, Budgam, about 115 kilometers from the Line of Control separating Indian and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir.

Local media reported that the 27-year-old had been on leave from military service since February 26, and that his leave was expected to last until March 31.

The reports of the soldier’s abduction came amid ongoing tensions in ties between India and Pakistan which were escalated last month when a Pakistan-based terrorist group affiliated with al-Qaeda conducted a car bomb attack against Indian military forces in Kashmir, killing at least 40 troops.

The bombing was followed by Indian air strikes on suspected terrorist training camps on the Pakistani side of the border last week, which in turn sparked skirmishes between Indian and Pakistani forces.

Message end/