Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the decision to release the IAF pilot in joint sitting of Parliament on Thursday.
Pakistan has said that it will release Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman on Friday. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the decision to release the IAF pilot in the joint sitting of Parliament on Thursday.
"We have decided to release the captured Indian pilot tomorrow as a peace gesture," Imran Khan announced this in Pakistan Parliament. Khan, however, said Pakistan's de-escalation efforts should not be seen a weak gesture. He also said that he tried to reach out to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.
Khan's statement came after India's tough message saying there will "no deal, no negotiation" over the release of IAF pilot.
India's strong message works
India had asked for the immediate release of Wing Commander Abhinandan as international pressure increased on Pakistan. New Delhi had mobilised the world community with the Ministry of External Affairs briefing 10 diplomats to apprise them of the Indo-Pak situation and the status of the IAF pilot.
India had also strongly condemned the vulgar display of the injured pilot on Wednesday and said it was a violation of the Geneva Convention. Sources said a day later that Pakistan was trying to create a 'Kandahar-like pressure' on India but New Delhi was resolute.
Government sources in India said that Pakistan is trying to create a Kandahar type pressure after the capture of the Indian pilot but New Delhi will not make any deal on the matter and wants immediate release of the Indian Air Force personnel.
India had demanded the immediate release of IAF pilot
On Tuesday, India foiled an attempt by Pakistan Air Force to carry out strikes in Jammu and Kashmir by shooting down an F-16 fighter plane while losing its own MiG-21 jet after which a pilot was "missing in action". Pakistan had later confirmed that the Indian pilot was in its custody.
Following the development, India had strongly objected to Pakistan's vulgar display of injured personnel of the Indian Air Force in violation of all norms of International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Convention.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had earlier said Islamabad is willing to consider returning the Indian pilot if it means de-escalation of tensions between the two countries.
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