The paramilitary Border Security Force, which had arrested three Pakistan army soldiers on Sunday near the international border in Suchetgrah sector of Jammu region, handed them over to Pakistani authorities after a flag meeting on Monday.

A senior BSF officer said the three Pakistani soldiers strayed into this side of the border on Sunday evening, and were immediately arrested by the alert jawans of the BSF patrolling in the area.

"They were unarmed, and found to have inadvertently crossed over to this side. They had recently been posted to the area," said G S Virk, deputy inspector general BSF.

"They were interrogated and after a flag meeting with the Pakistan Rangers, the three troopers identified as Amjad Farooq, Nasir Ahmad and Shahid were handed back to their officers this afternoon," Virk added.

The three soldiers were in civvies when they were arrested on this side of the border.

A bilateral ceasefire between the two armies has been in force since November 2003, which has been holding well since then.