Pakistan to release captive Indian pilot Abhinandan today

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Friday said Pakistan desires for peace in the region and decision to release Indian fighter pilot is a gesture to de-escalate the situation between the two neighbours in the South Asia.    

In an interview with CNN, he said India had provoked the situation by violating Pakistan’s airspace and international laws.

The foreign minister said Pakistan never wanted escalation as Prime Minister Imran Khan has said several times that we will take two steps, if India takes one.

Qureshi made it clear that Pakistan will not allow any organization or individual to use its soil against any country including India.

Commenting on the Pulwama incident, the FM said if India has solid evidence, it should sit and talk over it with Islamabad.

He said that United Nations and the US can play a significant role in de-escalation of tensions in the region.

Answering a query, the foreign minister said Pakistan was working for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.

He said President Trump and other high officials have acknowledged and appreciated Pakistan’s efforts toward peace in Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Imran Khan while addressing a joint parliamentary session in the wake of soaring tensions between India and Pakistan, announced to release the captured Indian pilot, Abhinandan, as a gesture of peace.

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Wing Commander Abhinandan

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) after striking down two Indian fighter jets arrested a pilot on Feb 27, who ejected himself after being hit in the airspace of Pakistan in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Hours after the arrest, Pakistan military had released a video statement of a captured Indian pilot.

“I’m wing commander Abhinandan and my service number is 27981,” the arrested Indian pilot said in his video statement.

I’m a flying pilot of the Indian air force (IAF), he continued in his statement.

In a video footage, Abhinandan can be seen sharing his views and thanking the Pakistan armed forces for saving his life from the mob at crash site.

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