Published time: 28 Feb, 2019 11:22 Edited time: 28 Feb, 2019 12:03
In a parliamentary address, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that the Indian Air Force pilot shot down and captured over Pakistan will be released tomorrow as a gesture of peace, stressing need for dialogue.
“As a peace gesture we will be releasing him tomorrow,” Khan said, adding that “all issues should be resolved through dialogue.”
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s jet was shot down Wednesday in Pakistani airspace while flying over Kashmir, the hot-spot in rising tensions between the rival nations. After ejecting from the aircraft, he was mobbed by angry civilians and had to be rescued by Pakistani soldiers.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs admitted the loss of the aircraft on Wednesday, but announced that a Pakistani warplane had also been taken down. The countries began trading blows after New Delhi launched a preemptive strike against suspected terrorist camps in Pakistani territory Tuesday.
India justified the strikes by saying that it was in response to Pakistani-based militants attacking and killing over 40 of its police officers in mid-February.
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