The Guardian: Pakistan returns Indian pilot shot down over Kashmir in 'peace gesture'
Abhinandan Varthaman involved in the first publicly acknowledged dogfight between the countries in 48 years
Pakistan has returned an Indian pilot who had become the face of the worst military crisis between the two countries in decades, in a gesture aimed at demonstrating its willingness to de-escalate the conflict.
Wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was shot down during the first publicly acknowledged dogfight between the countries in 48 years on Wednesday, was returned to India at the Wagah border crossing in Punjab on Friday evening.
Imran Khan, Pakistan’s prime minister, had announced his impending release in parliament on Thursday, calling it a “peace gesture”.
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More News On Pakistan Returning Captured Pilot To India
The Latest: Pakistan hands over captured pilot to India -- AP
Pakistan releases captured Indian pilot as confrontation cools -- Reuters
Pakistan hands over Indian pilot captured from downed plane -- France 24
Abhinandan: Captured Indian pilot handed back by Pakistan -- BBC
Pakistan releases captured Indian pilot at border point -- Euronews
Kashmir conflict: Pakistan returns captured pilot to India -- DW
Pakistan hands over captured pilot Abhinandan Varthaman to India -- Al Jazeera
It was the right move. I salute Pakistan for doing this.
ReplyDeleteIt was a move to cement their gains and nothing more.
ReplyDeleteThey have their suicide bombing and 2 planes.
If it goes on much more they start hemorrhaging.
they understand that they are ahead in terms of body count. They want to stop while they are ahead. They know they cannot do better but only worse. This is a sign of weakness.
Spin it as you must.
ReplyDeleteIt is weakness. The pilot is like a knight. He has a name and his of higher social status. The Indian politicians have to get him back or else. They will have to fight until they get him back especially after the lopsided air battle.
ReplyDeleteThe Pakistani politicians know this. So they give him back. They inflicted more deaths than they took. That is a win for them. They want to lay low and in 6 months or 2 years launch another suicide bomb attack. Rinse Repeat.
The Paks want low scale conflict. They are afraid of anything larger. It gets large and their babies do not get new shoes, you get social upheaval and they will be dead or have to find real jobs in the real economy.