Indian Air Force’s Wing Commander Abinandan Varthaman who is currently under the custody of Pakistan Armed Forces in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir after his Aircraft MIG 21 Bison was shot down in air combat on Wednesday morning, may be released soon reported CNN-News quoted reliable sources.
The news report further claimed quoting Government Sources that release of Wing Commander Abinandan was made an immediate priority by India as part of de-escalation activities in the preview of prevailing tension between India and Pakistan.
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman had on Wednesday morning ejected from his aircraft on PoK side after the MIG 21 shot down following Air Combat with Pakistan Air Force. He was later taken into custody by Pakistan Armed Forces.
Later, Pakistani Social Media Handles were flooded with the Video clip showing Commander Abhinandan in Custody. Indian Government that the IAF pilot had indeed been captured and called for his immediate release under the Geneva Convention.
The government also objected to the “vulgar display” of the injured personnel, saying it flouted the Convention norms.
READ: Pakistan Suspends Samjhauta Express Train Service Amidst Indo-Pakistan Tension
As per the Geneva Convention 1949, ‘which applies to all cases of declared war or of any other armed conflict which may arise between two or more of the signatories, even if the state of war is not recognized by one of them”, prisoners of war shall be released and repatriated without delay after the cessation of active hostilities” and “unjustifiable delay in the repatriation of prisoners of war or civilians” is a grave breach of the protocol’.
Sources further claimed that Indian High Commission in Pakistan last evening gave a demarche to Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the immediate and safe return of Wing Commander Abhinandan. Similar Demarche was given to Pakistan’s acting High Commissioner in New Delhi yesterday.
Sources: Indian High Commission in Pakistan last evening gave a demarche to Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs for immediate and safe return of Wing Commander Abhinandan. Similar Demarche was given to Pakistan's acting High Commissioner in New Delhi yesterday. pic.twitter.com/OSznWFajGB
— ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2019
Sources further revealed that NSA Ajit Doval and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had a telephonic conversation late last night. Pompeo said that the US supported India’s decision to take action against JeM terror camp on Pakistani soil.
Sources: NSA Ajit Doval and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had a telephonic conversation late last night. Pompeo said that the US supported India’s decision to take action against JeM terror camp on Pakistani soil pic.twitter.com/9u5jx8GE9X
— ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2019
Apart from this, Pakistani Newspaper The Nation reported saying that Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi as saying that the country is willing to negotiate over Varthaman’s return “with an open heart”.
The escalating tension between India and Pakistan comes a day after the Indian air strike on a terror camp in Pakistan on wee hours of Tuesday. Jammu and Kashmir saw heightened military activity on Wednesday, with Pakistani jets violating the Indian air space and dropping some bombs in the Rajouri sector after which one of their fighters was shot down.
Indian Air Force on Tuesday carried out unprecedented Air Strikes across LoC destroying Balakot JeM Terror Camp. As per reports, 12 Mirage 2000 jets took part in the operation that dropped 1000 kgs of Bomb across LoC in early hours of the Tuesday, Feb 26 completely destroying the Terror Camps. Though Pakistan hasn’t acknowledged any casualties, however, countries across the world have lined up in Indian support asking Pakistan to put a check on terror camps within the country.
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