Pakistan to Release IAF Pilot Abhinandan Varthaman Tomorrow

Guwahati: The Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan said that his government will release Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman on Friday as peace gesture.

The Pakistan Prime Minister on Thursday announced the release of the IAF Wing Commander in his address to the joint session of Pakistani Parliament.

Abhinandan is in Pakistan custody since Wednesday morning when he landed on the other side of the Line of Control after his aircraft fell down during aerial dogfight between India and Pakistan.

Imran Khan during the joint session of Pakistani Parliament said that he is ready to have dialogue with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that he tried to speak to the Indian Prime Minister as he want to de-escalate prevailing tension between the two countries.

Khan said, "I appeal to India and Narendra Modi not to escalate the situation further and that it would not be in favour of either India or Pakistan given the kind of weapons the two countries have."

The Pakistan Prime Minister also defended violation of Indian airspace by Pakistan Air Force saying the country was forced to retaliate following action by India.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday also offered a deal to India on the IAF pilot and said that Pakistan was ready to release the pilot if it meant 'de-escalation' of the current tension between the two countries but on Thursday India rejected the deal saying it wanted immediate release of the IAF pilot.

IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was taken into custody by Pakistan on Wednesday after an aerial combat between India and Pakistani fighter planes.

The government also summoned the Pakistani envoy and handed over a demarche demanding the immediate and safe return of the Wing Commander and also strongly objected to Pakistan's vulgar display of the pilot and said Pakistan would be well advised to ensure that he should not be caused any harm.

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