Wing Commander Abhinandan will be released tomorrow as a peace gesture: Imran Khan

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced today that Wing Commander Abhinandan, the pilot in Pakistan’s custody, will be released tomorrow as a “peace gesture”.

Khan made this announcement in the Pakistan Parliament. State broadcaster of Pakistan PTV News reported Khan as saying it would be “a first step to open negotiations”.

Abhinandan Varthaman was taken into Pakistani custody yesterday after his MiG 21 Bison of the Indian Air Force was shot down. Spokesperson of the Pakistan armed forces Major General Asif Ghafoor had held a press conference and released a video of Abhinandan in the custody of the Pakistan Army. India then stated that one of its pilots was “missing in action”.

Last afternoon, the Ministry of External Affairs acknowledged that Abhinandan is in Pakistan’s custody, and had summoned the Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan. It also said Pakistan was in violation of the terms of the Geneva Convention in its “vulgar display of an injured personnel”.