Wagah, Mar 4, : Departing with tears from Pakistan, Indian detainee, Kashmir Singh got a fresh leash of a “real life” on returning home to India after languishing 35 years in various jails of Pakistan.

Singh was given a warm and rousing welcome at the Wagah border.

Terming the event as historical, Singh said that he had got a “nayan janam” (a new birth) and described Pakistan’s caretaker Human Rights Minister Ansar Burney as a “farishta” (an angel).

Burney and officials of the Indian High Commission in Pakistan escorted Singh to the border and handed over to officials of Border Security Force (BSF).

An emotional Kashmir Singh said that his faith in god and the love and hard efforts of his family and Ansar Burney had kept him alive in Pakistan’s jails.

Kashmir Singh recognized his wife and described it as the happiest moment of his life when he met with his family.

Tears rolled down the face of Paramjit Kaur, his wife who stood alongside at the press conference at Wagah.

Paramjit Kaur said it was a miracle for her and thanked the almighty for showering blessing on the family.

Singh appealed to the Governments of India and Pakistan to release Indian and Pakistani prisoners languishing in various jails in both countries inspite of completing their sentences.

Bikram Singh Majithia, Punjab’s Minister of Iinformation and Broadcasting and Guljar Singh Ranike, Minister for Sports and Animal Husbandry who were at the border to receive Kashmir Singh said the Government of Punjab would provide all logistical help to Kashmir Singh to resettle himself.

Kashmir Singh was convicted of spying and sentenced to death by a military court in Lahore, but the Pakistan government had stayed his execution in the late 1970s and last week President Pervez Musharraf pardoned him that resulted in his release from Pakistan jail. (ANI)