IAF pilot’s capture in Pakistan occurred amid escalating military tension between the two countries. On Wednesday, IAF pilot Abhinandan’s MiG 21 had shot down Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jet before falling into an ambush which led to the crash of the fighter jet he was flying.
He landed on Pakistani soil after ejecting from his jet and was arrested by the Pakistani forces. However, it is believed India put back channel diplomatic pressure with the help of allies to make Pakistan release the pilot immediately.
On Thursday, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced in the Pakistan National Assembly that Abhinandan would be set free as a ‘gesture of peace’.
Abhinandan is being accompanied by Indian High Commission officials from Islamabad. He will touch the Indian soil after concluding formalities at Wagah.
Pakistan: Visuals from Wagah in Lahore; IAF Wing Commander #AbhinandanVarthaman will soon be handed over to the Indian Air Force at Attari-Wagah border pic.twitter.com/xEPghVgNzi
— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2019
According to Firstpost, once the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot reaches India, he will be sent in for a medical examination. A committee of the IAF will reconstruct the events of the crash to learn what was fired, the frequency and intensity of the firing. This is the way the forces will gauge Pakistan’s preparedness, said the publication.
“Then, the pilot will be debriefed by multiple agencies – namely the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). He will be made to reconstruct the event.”
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