The former President also predicted that the conflict between India and Pakistan would be resolved by people power where "the people are going to force the nations to work for the prosperity of the nation and the peace of the nation."
"The government of India did not do anything to secure my release. But for my elder brother Anand Vir, advocate Arvind Kumar Singh and the honourable Supreme court of India, I would have still be rotting in Pakistani jails. The agencies, which hire you, disown you the moment you are arrested. The Indian high commission in Pakistan did not help either. They took their own sweet time for giving me temporary travel documents," he said.
In a telephonic conversation with rediff.com, Anand Vir, brother of 52-year-old Gopal Das, whose release after 27 years in Pakistani prisons was announced by Islamabad on Sunday, said the family is happy about his release, although they have yet to hear of it from the Pakistan government
Blood splattered compounds, smashed window panes and demolished roofs are all that are left of houses in border hamlets which have been battered in Pakistani shelling in the last four days. A smell of gunpowder lingers in these villages whose residents are living in increasing fear. In all, 12 people, including five security personnel, have been killed and over 60 others injured in Pakistani firing from across the border in Jammu since Thursday.
On Sunday, a civilian was killed and two persons were injured in the Pakistani shelling along the IB in Kanachak belt of Jammu district, raising the death toll in the ceasefire violations since Thursday last to 12 and injuries to over 60.
Violating the ceasefire yet again, Pakistani troops fired at a forward border outpost along the international border in the wee hours of Sunday drawing retaliation from Border Security Force troops. An IED explosion also took place along the border line.
India and Pakistan on Saturday traded accusations of violating ceasefire along the border area.
In a major ceasefire violation, Pakistani Rangers on Wednesday opened heavy fire at Indian border outposts along the international border in Jammu district, killing a Border Security Force personnel and leaving three other troopers injured.
Border Security Force personnel foiled an infiltration bid in Jammu and Kashmir's RS Pura sector late on Wednesday night.
Pakistani troops on Tuesday opened fire and pounded several Indian posts with mortar shells in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
In the second ceasefire violation in as many days, Pakistani troops on Monday fired at a forward outpost along the International Border in Jammu where the Border Security Force foiled an infiltration bid by militants.
The Border Security Force troops shot dead a Pakistani infiltrator along the International Border in R S Pura sub-sector of Jammu district on Sunday.
Three civilians were injured as Pakistani troops opened fire and shelled 17 border out posts and hamlets along the International Border in Jammu and Samba districts overnight, resulting in heavy exchanges till the wee hours on Friday.
Here's a recap of events that occurred in India in the past 24 hours.
The Border Security Force,on Monday, foiled two infiltration bids by terrorists along the Indo-Pak border near Jammu, officials said.A group of at least 5 terrorists entered the Indian territory and came close to border fencing in Suchetgarh forward defence location along the International Border in R S Pura sub-sector of the district.
The Border Security Force has apprehended a Pakistani youth, who had crossed over to India, and handed him over to Pakistani Rangers at Octroi post in Jammu division, paramilitary officials said on Saturday.
Here's a recap of the events from the past 24 hours.
Guns fell silent along the Indo-Pak border in Jammu after a fortnight of continuous firing by Pakistani troops and shelling exchanges in which two civilians were killed and 17 others injured in 22 ceasefire violations.
An infiltration bid was foiled by the Border Security Force troops, who killed two intruders near Indo-Pak border fencing at Mangral, located 35 km from Jammu, after an exchange of fire for over an hour.
Pakistan indulged in heavy firing and mortar shelling on eight border outposts in Jammu district.
The outpost at Abduliam was subjected to small arms fire from Ata post on the Pakistan-held territory at around 2130 hours, drawing retaliatory action by BSF, they said, adding that the intermittent exchange of fire continued well past midnight.
Sheela Bhatt reports from Firozabad, the country's centre for glass bangles, on what life is like for its workers in the wake of the national lockdown.
Pakistani troops heavily shelled border hamlets and army posts along the LoC with mortar bombs for the eleventh consecutive day in two sectors of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, which witnessed two fresh ceasefire violations from across the border on Wednesday.
Exchange of sweets between border guards of India and Pakistan along the LoC and the IB in Jammu and Kashmir, a regular feature during Eid festivities, did not take place on Wednesday.
Border Security Force personnel on Friday shot dead a militant trying to infiltrate into India from across the border in Jammu and Kashmir under cover of Pakistani firing, the third ceasefire violation by rangers of the neighbouring country in six days' time.A group of three to four intruders entered into Indian territory along the international border in R S Pura belt of Jammu district. BSF troops fired back resulting in a gunfight. One intruder was shot dead.
The Army on Thursday evening staged a flag march in the Satwari area of Jammu city after a Sikh youth was killed in police firing, while two others were wounded in daylong clashes between protestors and security forces.
Cricket Australia on Wednesday paid tribute to umpire Peter Parker after he announced his retirement from the game, ending a career spanning 15 years at the top level. Parker stood in 10 Test matches and 65 one-day internationals over an international career that began in 1993 with his debut Test against New Zealand in Brisbane.
The fifteen constituencies that will go to polls are: Athani, Kagwad, Gokak, Yellapura, Hirekerur, Ranibennur, Vijaynagara, Chickballapura, K R Pura, Yeshwanthpura, Mahalakshmi Layout, Shivajinagara, Hosakote, K R Pete and Hunsur.
The largest athlete's village in the history of the Games is a visceral monument to now-faded optimism. Planned when Brazil was booming, its harnessing of private sector wealth was meant to set the gold standard for a sustainable Olympics. Instead, the worst recession in generations pushed the luxury apartments out of reach.
The victim in his police complaint said that his attackers removed his cap and slapped him, while asking him to chant Bharat Mata ki Jai and Jai Shri Ram.
Violating the ceasefire yet again, Pakistani Rangers resorted to firing of mortar bombs on border out posts along the International Border in Jammu district.
The Centre, in its affidavit filed in the apex court on Sunday, has also said that trial of these cases should be held outside Gujarat.
The sector commanders of the BSF and Pakistan Rangers held a flag meeting, after a gap of about seven months
Here's a recap of events that occurred in India in the past 24 hours.
Here's a recap of events that occurred in India in the past 24 hours.
Here's a recap of events that occurred in India in the past 24 hours.
The wicket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground is like a subcontinent track. Batsmen struggled while playing on it this week in the Pura Cup clash between Victoria and New South Wales.
Australia fast bowler Shaun Tait has been ruled out of the first Test against Sri Lanka with an elbow injury. Seamer Ben Hilfenhaus will take his place.
Here's a recap of events that occurred in India in the past 24 hours.
B B Thappa, a barber in the force, took his colleague's gun from the barracks and shot himself in R S Pura sector of Jammu district, officials told PTI.
