ISLAMABADPakistan Prime Minster Imran Khan told a joint session of Parliament that IAF’s captured pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman will be released on Friday as a gesture of peace.
The surprise announcement during a joint session of Parliament came barely an hour after Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Prime Minister Khan is ready to talk to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to de-escalate Indo-Pak tensions.
As the opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif took the floor of the House, Prime Minister Khan apologised for cutting in, saying he wishes to announce that the Indian pilot captured by Pakistan Air Force on Wednesday will be released Friday as a “peace gesture”.
“Yesterday I tried to call (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi to say that we don’t want escalation. Our push for de-escalation doesn’t mean we are afraid,” Imran Khan said.
“In our desire for peace, I announce that tomorrow, and as a first step to open negotiations, Pakistan will be releasing the Indian Air Force officer in our custody,” PM Khan said.
The announcement was greeted by thumping of desks by Pakistani lawmakers.
Earlier, Qureshi said that Pakistan is willing to consider returning the captured IAF pilot if it leads to “de-escalation” of tensions with India.
Pakistan detained Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman following a fierce engagement between air forces of the two sides along the Line of Control when his MiG 21 fighter jet was downed.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) said that the Indian Air Force pilot was safe and sound.
“The armed forces rescued him from the mob that went after him after his plane crashed in Kashmir,” the FO said.
India Wednesday summoned the acting high commissioner of Pakistan and demanded immediate and safe return of the IAF pilot who was detained by Pakistan following an aerial engagement by air forces of the two countries.
It has also been made clear to Pakistan that no harm should be caused to the Indian defence personnel, the External Affairs Ministry said in New Delhi, adding that it has conveyed strong objection to the neighbouring country at the “vulgar display” of an injured personnel in violation of all norms of International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Convention.
However, India had asserted that there was no question of any deal on the return of Wing Commander Abhinandan.
India had also clarified that it had not asked for consular access to the IAF pilot and had insisted on his unconditional and immediate return.
Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti Welcome
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti welcomed Pakistan’s announcement that IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman would be released by them on Friday as a ‘goodwill gesture’.
“The decision to hand over Wing Commander Abhinandan is a great gesture & shouldnt be seen in isolation. It also comes at a time when Pak couldve chosen to further escalate an already tensed situation. I see it as a mark of reconciliation . Our leadership should reciprocate,” PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti said on Twitter.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan told a joint session of Parliament that IAF’s captured pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman will be released on Friday as a gesture of peace.
“In our desire for peace, I announce that tomorrow, and as a first step to open negotiations, Pakistan will be releasing the Indian Air Force officer in our custody,” PM Khan said.
The gesture is greeted with near unanimous support in the parliament.
The surprise announcement came barely an hour after Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Prime Minister Khan is ready to talk to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to de-escalate Indo-Pak tensions.
The announcement was greeted by thumping of desks by Pakistani lawmakers.
Indian and Pakistani air force engaged in “aerial engagement” on Wednesday, a day after Indian fighter jets bombed a Jaish-e-Mohammad training camp in Balakot.
On Wednesday morning, Pakistani jets entered Indian airspace in the Jammu sector, and Indian Air Force fighter jets chased them. Abhinandan Varthaman’s MiG21 Bison jet crossed into Pakistani airspace while chasing away a Pakistan Air Force jet and was shot down.
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