Attari-Wagah crossing. Click to see full-size image
On February 28th, in a sign of de-escalation, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that the country would released the captured Indian Pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman as a peace gesture.
As a true statesman, Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan announced that #Pakistan will release Indian Air Force Pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman tomorrow as a peace gesture. pic.twitter.com/4nIbd6szk6
— Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) February 28, 2019
The decision was praised by the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has welcomed Prime Minister Imran Khan's decision to release the captured Indian pilot. pic.twitter.com/TFDlhCpimd
— Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) March 1, 2019
The decision was also once more repeated by Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi: The Indian Pilot (#AbhinanadanVarthaman) will be released this afternoon via Wagah. pic.twitter.com/B4kRwcM9zo
— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2019
Hindustan Times reported that the pilot had been handed over to the Indian High Commission in Pakistan and will cross the Attari-Wagah joint check-post at around 3-4 pm on March 1st.
A senior Indian Air Force team is at the Attari-Wagah check post to receive the incoming pilot.
Deputy Commissioner Shiv Dular Singh Dhillon, Amritsar: Wing Commander #AbhinandanVarthaman will cross the border today, can't tell you exact time since there are certain formalities. A senior Indian Air force team from Delhi is here, they will be the ones to receive him. pic.twitter.com/np8iCrCn5h
— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2019
According to Indian party BJP President Amit Shah the return of the pilot is a diplomatic victory of India.
“Creating the situation for return of pilot Abhinandan in such a short span of time is our diplomatic victory,” Shah said.
However, in a sign that the tension has not entirely dissipated, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi refused to attend the meeting of foreign ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Abu Dhabi because Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj was invited as a Guest of Honor.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi: I will not attend Council of Foreign Ministers as a matter of principle for having extended invitation as a Guest of Honour to Sushma Swaraj. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/eRIiSVkox7
— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2019
Abu Dhabi: Empty Pakistani chair at OIC as Guest of Honour Sushma Swaraj gives her speech. pic.twitter.com/wzbmCg0CSz
— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2019
Qureshi also admitted that Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar is in Pakistan and is “unwell”, but said the government can act against him only if India presents “solid” and “inalienable” evidence that can stand in a court of law.
While speaking at the OIC, Sushma Swaraj said terrorism is destabilizing regions and that India would continue fighting against Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Qureshi also said that Pakistan will take action against him if presented with “evidence that can stand in a court of law”.
“If they have solid, inalienable evidence that is acceptable to courts of Pakistan, share it with us so that we can convince the people and we can convince the independent judiciary of Pakistan,” Qureshi said.
“We need to satisfy the legal process,” he said.
Qureshi also added that the release of captured IAF pilot is a “peace gesture” and must be seen as Pakistan’s “willingness to de-escalate.”
EAM Sushma Swaraj at OIC conclave:. Terrorism is destroying lives,destabilizing regions and putting the world at great peril. Terror reach is growing and the toll it is taking is increasing. pic.twitter.com/l3jsVrqsZj
— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2019
“We see the terrible face of terror. We are witnessing the terrible and senseless destruction of terrorism. Terror is growing and we are seeing the terrible face of terror in many of our countries. Terrorism is destroying lives, destabilising regions and putting the world at great peril. Terror reach is growing and the toll it is taking is increasing,” Sushma Swaraj said at the OIC meeting.
Despite the progress, on February 28th, India announced that its weapons systems and navy are on high alert, since Pakistan was targeting military sites.
“We are fully prepared to respond to any provocation.” In the event of further aggression, Rear Admiral D.S. Gujral assured a “resolute, swift and strong response” by the Indian Navy, which has been “deployed in a high state of readiness and remains poised in three dimensions, on land, sea and in the air.”
Finally, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that he had “good conversations” with leaders of both India and Pakistan and he was hopeful that tensions would be reduced.
“We were and continue to be very engaged with the issue between India and Pakistan,” Pompeo told reporters. “I spent a good deal of time on the phone last night talking to leaders in both countries, making sure there was good information exchanged, encouraging each country to not take any action that would escalate and create increased risk,” he said.
“I had good conversations, and I am hopeful that we can take down the tension there, at least for the time being, so they can begin to have conversations that don’t portend risk of escalation to either of the two countries. So we’re working hard on that,” Pompeo concluded.
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