The Indian Army chopper that strayed into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and was forced to land by the Pakistan military was released along with its occupants and has returned to India.

The Army's public relations officer in New Delhi confirmed this and said, it returned to Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir around 6 last 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 were taken into military custody after the Pakistan Army alleged that the chopper had violated its airspace in the Kargil sector.

The Army will order an inquiry to ascertain the reasons behind its helicopter straying into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Army sources said last night.