The Indian Army chopper that strayed into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and was forced to land by Pakistan military has been released and has returned to India. Army's public relations officer in New Delhi confirmed the return of chopper and said, the chopper returned to Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir at around 6pm Sunday evening.The External Affairs Ministry has thanked the Pakistan foreign ministry for sorting out the issue in a short time.

Earlier, the four-member crew was taken into military custody after Pakistan Army alleged that the chopper had violated its airspace in the Kargil sector. In New Delhi, Indian Army sources said bad weather could be a reason behind the Cheetah helicopter's entry into PoK.The detained Indian Army personnel included a colonel, two majors and a junior commissioned officer.

The Cheetah helicopter belonging to Army's Aviation Corps was on a routine administration and maintenance flight . The helicopter was moving from Leh to Bimbat, in Drass Sector, to rectify another Cheetah helicopter which had landed there due to technical snag. The Cheetah helicopter inadvertently crossed over into POK in the GULTARI Sector, due to inclement weather. This incident took place at approx 1320 hrs on Sunday.