Facing backlash for releasing a seemingly edited video of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman right before the captive IAF pilot was handed over to India on Friday, 1 March, the Pakistan government took it down from its official Twitter account.
The video, however, is still available on various Pakistani news channels and their Twitter accounts.
At 8:30 pm (IST), the Pakistan government released the pilot's video message to the local media in which he is seen describing how he was captured.
It cannot be ascertained yet whether he was made to record the video under duress.
Varthaman was returned to India late evening on on Friday, 1 March after being in Pakistani custody for more than two days. His handing over at the Attari-Wagah border was delayed by at least a few hours. According to PTI sources, he was taken last minute to record a statement on camera by Pakistani authorities before he was allowed to cross the border, causing the delay.
What is Abhinandan Heard Saying in the Video?
In the video message, Varthaman is heard saying that he entered Pakistan's space to "find a target" – but his aircraft was shot down.
“I was in search of the target when your (Pakistan) Air Force shot me down. I had to eject the plane which had sustained damage. As soon as I ejected and when my parachute opened and I fell down, I had a pistol with me.”Abhinandan in video released by Pakistan
He added, “There were many people. I had only one way to save myself: I dropped my pistol and tried to run.”
He also said, “People chased me, their emotions were running high. Just then, two Pakistani Army officials came and saved me. Pakistani army captains saved from the people and did not let any harm come to me. They took me to their unit where I was administered first aid and then I was taken to the hospital where I further underwent a medical exam and received more aid.”
"The army personnel saved me from the mob. The Pakistani army is very professional and I am impressed by it," he said, while criticising the Indian media.
Twitter Users Call Out Pakistan Over ‘Edited’ Video
The video was called out on Twitter for being fabricated. Many slammed it for being "a propaganda video”, given the number of cuts visible.
Twitter users noticed the unusual amounts of cuts and jumps in the video. One user noticed that in the 1 minute 24 seconds long video, there are 17 cuts and jumps, further urging people to not share the video.
India has maintained that Varthaman's plane was downed when IAF planes foiled an attempt by Pakistan Air Force to target Indian military installations in Jammu and Kashmir on 27 February, a day after New Delhi had conducted counter-terror operations in Pakistan's Balakot. He bailed out of the aircraft but drifted to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir where he was detained by the Pakistan Army.
Although there has been no official word as to what time he was brought to the Wagah border on Friday, sources say he reached Lahore after 4pm.
The Pakistani media reported that "his papers were being checked at the Wagah immigration", and so he was not being "immediately" handed over to the Indian authorities.
Varthaman finally crossed the border at around 9:20pm.
(With inputs from PTI)
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