UN chief hails Pakistan’s decision to release captured Indian pilot
NEW YORK (92 News) – UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Thursday welcomed Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision to release the captured Indian fighter pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan.
To a question at the regular briefing at UN Headquarters in New York, the UN chief’s spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, “We would encourage both parties to do whatever we can to de-escalate the situation.”
“The report of the release of the Indian pilot by the Pakistani authorities would be very much a welcome step,” the UN chief's spokesperson said.
"We would encourage both parties to do whatever they can to deescalate the situation and this is the message that has been passed on by the United Nations and, I think, by the international community as a whole,” the spokesperson added.
The spokesperson said that the secretary-general is in touch with both Pakistan and India at various levels. He said that the UN chief hailed Pakistan’s move to free captured Indian pilot in what was seen as an effort to deescalate the gravest crisis between the two countries in years
It is pertinent to mention here that the Indian pilot, whose was plane was downed by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets on Wednesday, was then taken into custody.
UNGA president urges Pak, India to resolve issues via dialougue
Meanwhile, UN General Assembly President Maria Espinosa has also expressed concern over the situation and urged both countries to resolve their disputes through dialogue. Her spokeswoman said that the president believes diplomatic negotiations provide the best means to settle problems.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.
Two pilots killed as two Indian jets shot down by PAF: DG ISPR
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.
There is only one pilot under Pakistan Army’s custody. Wing Comd Abhi Nandan is being treated as per norms of military ethics. pic.twitter.com/8IQ5BPhLj2
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) February 27, 2019
