In a surprise announcement during a joint session of Parliament, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday, 28 February, said that captured Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman will be released on Friday, 1 March, as a gesture of peace.
Pakistan detained Wing Commander Varthaman Wednesday following a fierce engagement between air forces of the two sides along the Line of Control (LoC) when his MiG 21 fighter jet was downed.
Follow the live updates on the release of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman here.
‘Very Much Welcome Step’: UN
The release of an Indian pilot by Pakistan would be a "very much welcome step", spokesperson for UN chief Antonio Guterres said on Thursday, 28 February, stressing that the message to India and Pakistan from the world body and the international community is to de-escalate tensions.
"The reports of the promise of the release of the Indian pilot by the Pakistani authorities would be a very much welcomed step," spokesperson for the UN Secretary General Stephane Dujarric told reporters at the United Nations.
“We would encourage both parties to do whatever they can to de-escalate the situation and this is the message that has been passed on by the UN and by the international community as a whole.”Spokesperson for UN chief Antonio Guterres
Asked whether the Secretary General spoke with the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan amid the escalating tensions between the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbors, Dujarric said "contacts have been had with both sides at various levels".
He did not give further details.
‘Reasonably Decent News’: Trump Hints at De-Escalation of Indo-Pak Tension
Earlier, in the day, before Imran Khan made the announcement of releasing the Indian pilot, US President Donald Trump, said he has some "reasonably decent" news with the US involved in trying to help reduce tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Addressing a press conference in Vietnam's Hanoi after the nuclear summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the US president said:
“We have, I think, reasonably attractive news from Pakistan and India – they have been going at it and we’ve been involved in trying to have them stop – and we have some reasonably decent news. I think hopefully that’s going to be coming to an end – it’s been going on for a long time, decades and decades.”
Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity Must be Respected: China
In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) briefing on Thursday, Chinese Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang maintained that “sovereignty” and “territorial integrity” of all the countries must be respected.
MFA also stressed that China doesn’t want to see violation of international norms.
“Recently, China has been in close communication with both sides to promote peace and facilitate talks… both said they do not want escalation of tensions. So we hope that the two countries can meet each other half way and resolve this issue. China will continue to play our due role,” Lu said.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Calls Modi, Imran
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan on Thursday, 28 February telephoned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan as part of his efforts to de-escalate Indo-Pak tensions and underline the importance of dialogue and communication in resolving differences.
The Crown Prince, also the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, in a tweet said he talked to Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Khan.
"His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, held two phone calls on Thursday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, and Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan," his Twitter handle said.
Interestingly, his tweet came a day before the UAE hosts the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation meeting in Abu Dhabi on Friday. India has been invited for the first time to attend the Foreign Ministers' conclave in Abu Dhabi where External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will be the "guest of honour".
Pakistan, a member of the OIC, has conveyed its reservations over Swaraj's presence at the meeting.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al Jubeir is also scheduled to visit Islamabad on Thursday “carrying an important message” from the Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, reports from Pakistan said.
Meanwhile, the official WAM Emirates News Agency, reporting on the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's talks with Prime Minister Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Khan said, "His Highness and the two Prime Ministers exchanged talks on recent developments in the India-Pakistan arena." Sheikh Mohamed emphasised the importance behind dealing with these worrying developments, and working towards easing tensions between the two countries, prioritising dialogue and communication between the parties, it said.
Putin Expresses Russia's Solidarity in India's Fight Against Terror
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, 28 February called Prime Minister Narendra Modi to express his deep condolences over the Pulwama terrorist attack and conveyed the solidarity of his country with New Delhi in its fight against terror.
Modi thanked Putin for Russia's steadfast support for India's efforts to protect its interests against cross-border terror attacks, a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said.
In their telephonic conversation, the prime minister also renewed India’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in countering terrorism as a pillar of privileged and special strategic partnership.
Both leaders agreed that the "concerned" should stop all support to terrorism.
(With inputs from PTI)
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