Not ‘a peace gesture’, Imran Khan forced to release Wing Commander Abhinandan

In what can be termed as a mammoth triumph for foreign policies of India, Pakistan is forced to release IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. Pakistan PM Imran Khan said, “As a peace gesture we are releasing Wing Commander Abhinandan tomorrow.”

However, if one closely analyzes the matter, the release of Wing Commander is not a gesture of peace as claimed by Imran Khan. There are a lot of things at work here. Firstly, it was the international pressure and secondly, it is the Geneva Convention. It must be noted here that both India and Pakistan are signatories to the Geneva Conventions and therefore, the neighbouring nation cannot evade its responsibility under the International Convention. 

Moreover, if in case the IAF officer was not returned back to India, it will be considered as an act of war. And in that case, India could have taken any military action. Another noteworthy fact is that Pakistan is the same country which is begging for money from various countries all over the globe and it can’t afford war.

Earlier, Pakistan put forward some conditions for the release of Wing Commander Abhinandan, but a top Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) source claimed, “There will be NO negotiation, NO deal over IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. We demand his unconditional, immediate and safe release. If Pakistan thinks it will use him as a bargaining chip, it will soon be disabused.”

As per Geneva Convention, Pakistan is bound to return him safely to India. During Kargil War too, one IAF pilot was captured. He was released after 8 days. It’s Geneva Convention which has ensured the release of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. Pakistan PM had no other option but to release IAF pilot.

Yesterday, the MEA summoned the acting High Commissioner of Pakistan Syed Haider and said, “It is unfortunate that instead of fulfilling its international obligation & bilateral commitment to take credible action against terrorist entities and individuals operating from its soil, Pakistan has acted with aggression against India”. MEA further directed them to return the Wing Commander safe and sound.

Now, 125 crore Indians are waiting for the safe return of their hero. A lionhearted soldier, IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who chased three Pakistani F-16 jets with MiG-21 and shot down one of them, is a true hero in all sense.

If Imran Khan is really concerned about peace then he should handover JeM chief Masood Azhar and 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind, Hafiz Saeed. If the terror nation really wants peace then they should stop sponsoring terrorism against India. All this would be real peace gesture.