Pakistan’s decision to release Indian pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has been appreciated by almost all countries of the world. Print and electronic media have lauded the statesmanship of Pakistan’s Prime Minister. Gulf News International editor wrote: “Imran Khan scored another diplomatic win over India by announcing the release of captured Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman. He has shown his leadership qualities on the diplomatic front by avoiding irrational decisions at probably the most difficult time he is facing”. Abhinandan Varthaman was taken captive by Pakistan Army on Wednesday when his jet fighter was shot down in Azad Kashmir. On Friday evening, he was at Wagha border and by the times these lines go to press he would set his feet on Indian soil.
Meanwhile, the Indian government has removed a senior air force officer after Pakistan’s successful strikes and capturing of a pilot on February 27. But there is more to that. India lost 8 aircraft in one month, out of which 2 were shot down by Pakistani Jets and 6 crashed due to technical reasons or collision during training. “Air Marshal Chandrashekharan Hari Kumar PVSM AVSM VM VSM ADC, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command Indian Air Force retired on 28 February 2019 after an illustrious career spanning over 39 years,” the statement read. According to Indian media reports, Eastern Air Command chief Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar has been appointed as the new chief of Indian Air Force’s Western Air Command (WAC) on Thursday.
PM Imran Khan had told a joint session of the parliament on Thursday that the pilot will be handed over to India on Friday as peace gesture. His announcement was seen as a great gesture in a bid to de-escalate tension between Indian and Pakistan after two Indian fighter jets were shot down. Ball is now in India’s court. At the same time, Imran Khan also cautioned that the situation with India should not get out of hand otherwise Pakistan will have to retaliate. Imran Khan claimed that he also tried to call Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday on the phone because escalation is neither in Pakistan’s interests nor in India’s. He reiterated that all issues should be resolved through dialogue. “Despite opening the Kartarpur corridor, we received no response from India,” he said.
The joint session of Parliament was called to discuss the rising tension with India. Prime Minister Imran Khan in his address said: “The only purpose of our strike was to demonstrate our capability and will. We did not want to inflict any casualty on India as we wanted to act in a responsible manner.” He also lauded the Pakistani media and said: “Indian media created war hysteria. Our media showed solidarity and acted responsibly. We had understood that India will do something. India gave us a dossier today, two days after they attacked us. I had said that if India does something then we will respond”. Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif also spoke at the session and backed Imran’Khan’s policy and efforts.
According to media reports, top political leadership of the country was given an in-camera briefing at the Parliament House on the prevailing security situation and a sharp escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan after the Pulwama suicide attack. The briefing, held at the Parliament House in Islamabad on Wednesday, was also attended by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari attended the session along with party delegations. The parliamentarians were briefed by FM (foreign minister), followed by DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor, according to a press statement issued after the session.
