The issue of an army helicopter crossing over to Pakistan occupied Kasmir was on Sunday amicably resolved following efforts by the Director General of Military Operations of India and Pakistan.

External Affairs Minister SM Krishna thanked Pakistani authorities for their good gesture.

Pakistan army authorities also acknowledged that the chopper had crossed over the LOC inadvertently.

The helicopter belonging to the army earlier in the day inadvertently crossed over to Pak occupied Kashmir in the Kargil sector and landed there.

Less than five hours after the incident, the chopper with all its crew were allowed to return and landed in Kargil just before sunset.

The Director General of Military Operations(DGMO) of India and Pakistan were in constant touch, Army sources said.

The Indian High Commission in Islamabad was also in touch with the Pakistani side, the Ministry of External Affairs said in New Delhi.

The chopper was on its way to Bhimbhat from Leh.

Indian authorities across the LoC had been informed about the incident, Pakistan’s chief military spokesman Abbas said.

The detained Indian personnel were safe, he added.

Indian Army sources said the chopper entered the airspace over PoK at around 1320 IST and returned to Kargil at 1800 IST