Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman will be released soon by the Pakistani armed forces, said a media report quoting sources. The Indian Air Force pilot, who was captured by the Pakistani military after his MiG 21 crashed in Pakistan on Wednesday, may return to India at the earliest, reported moneycontrol website quoting News18.
Meanwhile US President Donald Trump has said that he had he had some ‘reasonably decent’ news from India and Pakistan.
“I think reasonably attractive news from Pakistan and India, they have been going at it and we have been involved and have them stop, we have some reasonably decent news,hopefully its going to be coming to an end, going on for a long time,decades and decades,” News agency ANI quoted Trump as saying.
Pakistani TV channels had broadcast the disturbing visuals of Wing Commander Abhinandan on Wednesday. The video of blindfolded Indian Air Force officer with his hands tied behind the back, was also shared by the government of Pakistan through its official Twitter handle.
Although, in his quick media briefing, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had confirmed that one Indian pilot was missing in action, he had not named the pilot in question. Later, reacting angrily to the disturbing footage of Wing Commander Abhinandan, the Indian government had objected to the ‘vulgar display’ of the injured personnel, saying it flouted the convention norms.
Abhinandan, for his part, was later seen drinking tea while in conversation with an officer from the Pakistani armed forces. The video appeared to have been released by the Pakistany army.
It’s not clear if the conversation between him and the Pakistani army personnel was taking place under duress, but Wing Commander Abhinandan was seen responding to questions posed by a faceless voice.
“I would like to put this on record and I will not change my statement when I go back to my country. The officers of the Pakistani army have looked after me very well. They are thorough gentlemen, starting from the captain, who rescued me from the mob thereafter the officers at the unit, which I am speaking to,” the Indian Air Force officer had said.
Meanwhile, it’s confirmed that India had downed one Pakistani F-16 during the aerial engagement on Wednesday. It’s not clear whether it was Wing Commander Abhinandan, who had shot down the F 16 before his MiG crashed in Pakistani territory.
