Islamabad: In a major relief to India, Pakistan has decided to release Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman tomorrow. This was informed by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan this afternoon.
“As a peace gesture, we are releasing Wing Commander Abhinandan tomorrow,” said Imran Khan while speaking in the Parliament of Pakistan.
It is learnt that all MPs present in the Parliament thumped their desks in approval of Khan’s declaration.
The Pakistan PM’s announcement to release Wing Commander Abhinandan came barely an hour after Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the Pakistan Prime Minister is ready to talk to Indian PM Narendra Modi to de-escalate Indo-Pak tensions. However, India, in response, asked Pakistan to release the Wing Commander unconditionally.
Notably, the Pakistan army had captured Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman yesterday following an aerial combat between Indian and Pakistani fighter planes. Before his capture, he shot down two Pakistani pilots and hit an F-16 jet, said the government.
The India government had summoned the Pakistani envoy and handed over a demarche demanding the “immediate and safe return” of the pilot. Besides, it strongly objected to Pakistan’s “vulgar display” of the pilot and said Pakistan “would be well advised to ensure that no harm comes to him”.
Ms Kalinga