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Captured IAF pilot Abhinandan handed over to India at Wagah Border

Captured IAF pilot Abhinandan handed over to India at Wagah Border
March 1, 2019 Web Desk

LAHORE (92 News) – The authorities handed over the captured Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan to Indian officials at Wagah Border, Lahore on Friday. Earlier, the FO spokesperson confirmed that the Indian pilot would be handed over to Indian officials at Wagah Border today. According to security sources, all arrangements for the pilot’s release have been finalised. He will be accompanied by the Indian air attache to Pakistan.

However, Indian pilot’s travel documents were also completed. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has been released as peace gesture by Pakistan. His release was announced by the Prime Minister Imran Khan as a peace gesture during a speech in joint session of the Parliament on Thursday. Wing Commander Abhinandan was arrested on Wednesday when his aircraft was shot down by Pakistan Air Force after violation of Pakistan airspace at the Line of Control.

PM announces to release Indian pilot as goodwill gesture
A day earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced to release Indian pilot Abhinandan as goodwill gesture tomorrow. Giving the policy statement during a joint session of the Parliament on Thursday, he said that Pakistan is a peace-loving country and will take each step for establishing peace. “After winning the elections, I had decided to resolve all issues through dialogues. Unluckily, war mania continued to increase in India. No autonomous country allows the violation of its border,” he declared.
 
The prime minister said that he had already stated that Pakistan will take two steps for peace in response to India’s one. He thanked the opposition for showing unity. He said that peace is vital for progress in the subcontinent, which is marred by poverty. “We should resolve our issues through dialogues. I wrote a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but he did not respond,” he said. The prime minister said that the Pulwama attack was carried out before the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. “India started pointing fingers at Pakistan judt half an hour after the attack,” he maintained. He said that they feared something would happen before the Indian elections.
Two Indian jets shot down by PAF
A day earlier, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) shot down two Indian jets on Wednesday, giving the first surprise to India.  According to the ISPR, the Indian jets had violated the Line of Control. The PAF gave a timely response and destroyed them. The Pak Army jawans arrested one of the pilots. The wreckage of one of the jets fell in the Pakistani territory, while the wreckage of another jet fell in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, he said that Pakistan does not want to push the region to the war. “No one wins a war and only humanity loses. We are a responsible state and want peace. The war is not a solution to any problem. We do not want to do anything which will prove our irresponsibility,” he said.