On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up for a high-level meeting on security amongst the intensified tensions with Pakistan and afterward Imran Khan declared the discharge of an Indian Air Force pilot arrested by his country.
The sources of the officials said that the meeting was joined by chiefs of the three Services, such as National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Quite a few other senior officials were also present in the meeting which was held at the prime minister’s residence.
Whereas, in the meantime Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday, declared that the captured Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman is going to be freed on Friday.
On Wednesday, an IAF pilot was caught by Pakistan after an air battle, all through which the two borders said they shot down each other’s warplanes that followed a failed effort to aim Indian military camp bases in vengeful strikes that flashed worries of war.
Imran Khan on Thursday proclaimed that IAF’s captured pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, is going to be released on Friday as a sign of peace and the “first step” to open discussions with India.
Imran Khan said, “In our desire for peace, I announce that tomorrow (Friday), and as a first step to open negotiations, Pakistan will be releasing the Indian Air Force officer in our custody”. The declaration all through a joint meeting of Parliament was hailed by thumping of desks by lawmakers.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, said Pakistan is agreeable to think through returning the pilot if it leads to “de-escalation” of tensions with India, said Imran Khan is all set to talk to Prime Minister Modi to reduce Indo-Pak tensions.
In a conference with the news channel, he said, “Prime Minister Imran Khan is ready to talk to Narendra Modi on the telephone and ready to extend an invitation of peace. Is Modi ready?”
“I think hopefully that (tensions) could be coming to an end, it has been going on for a long time,” said US President Donald Trump within efforts by backchannel speakers well-thought-out close to the two nations to resolve Indo-Pak tensions that hiked after the Pulwama suicide attack on February 14 by a JeM suicide bomber where 40 CRPF jawans were killed.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) said Wing Commander Varthaman is safe and sound. Top government sources in Delhi said that the IAF pilot cannot be considered for making a dealing chip and that India will not make any contract with Pakistan for his discharge.
The official sources said India has not required any consular contact to Wing Commander Varthaman as his instant discharge is “non-negotiable” and that the responsibility on reducing tension amongst the two nations lies completely on Islamabad. The sources further added, “We want him back unharmed, unconditionally and immediately. He is not a bargaining chip. There is no question of any deal with Pakistan on his return”.
