Pakistan succumbed to intense international pressure and diplomatic offensive launched by India as it agreed to release Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.
Imran Khan, Pakistan’s Prime Minister, made an announcement in the Parliament of Pakistan. He said that they are willing to release the Indian pilot tomorrow.
Yesterday, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman had successfully shot down Pakistan’s F-16 that had intruded into Indian airspace. However, he had to eject his Mig-21 when it was struck by retaliatory fire and had landed in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. He was then captured by Pakistan Army. India then launched massive diplomatic offensive and was successful in isolating Pakistan. All major powers of the world including the US, France, UK, Saudi Arabia and even China directed Pakistan to follow Geneva Convention on Prisoner’s of War (POW).
That Pakistan was under intense international pressure was evident when today morning US President Donald Trump had said that there would be some “reasonably decent news” on the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan. “They have been going at it and we have been involved in trying to have them stop,” Trump said. “We have been in the middle trying to help them both out.”
In a face saving gesture Imran Khan termed the release of Indian pilot as a “peace gesture”.
Earlier, India had called for the “immediate and safe return” of the Indian pilot and had termed the circulation of videos showing his “capture” by Pakistan as a violation of international law and in contravention of the Geneva Conventions.