On Thursday, 28 February, Pakistan PM Imran Khan offered to return IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman to India as a “peace gesture.” Now, India awaits his return and both countries plan for the next move to ease bilateral tensions.
The international community has been urging both nuclear-armed countries to defuse the situation, and most foreign media outlets reported positively on the new possibility of de-escalation although they were wary that the situation was still a long way from normal.
Here is a round-up of how international media reported on the news of Wing Commander Varthaman’s promised return and its effect on Indo-Pak relations.
‘Modi Silent While Pak PM Imran Khan Calls For Talks’
CNN reported on the recent developments saying the release could be “an attempt to defuse the gravest crisis in the disputed border region in years.”
The report detailed the “simmering resentment” between the neighbouring countries since Pulwama, but marked PM Modi’s silence against Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s calls for dialogue.
“After the 14 February attack, Modi expressed “deep anger” and promised that those responsible would pay a heavy price. However, he has been quiet in recent days. Modi’s reluctance to make a public comment on the escalating crisis along the border in disputed Kashmir is in stark contrast to Pakistan Prime Minister Khan, who called for dialogue between the two sides.”
‘Abhinandan ‘Human Face’ of Indo-Pak Crisis’
Reuters reported that Wing Commander Abhinandan has become “the human face of the flare-up over the contested region of Kashmir.”
The piece also reported that while the return of the IAF pilot may suggest a de-escalation, “Indian military officials refused to confirm they would de-escalate a conflict between the two nuclear powers.”
It added that many countries “urged restraint..Khan’s decision to release the pilot came after several countries offered diplomatic assistance to mediate between two countries, that have gone to war three times since their independence from British colonial rule in 1947.”
Reuters’ also commented on the proxinimity of the Indian elections and its effect, saying “With a general election due in India by May, a surge in nationalism from any conflict with Pakistan could become a key factor, potentially favouring Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.”
Tensions Not Eased Yet
The Guardian reported on the international calls for restraint between India and Pakistan and the pressure for India to reciprocate to Pakistan’s “peace gesture.”
“Khan’s surprise announcement that he was releasing Varthaman, whose welfare has been a major concern in India, will put pressure on Delhi to reciprocate in a way that eases tensions.”
The piece added that tensions may not de-escalate so quickly as “India will be reluctant to do so [reciprocate to Pakistan’s gesture] without extracting some demonstration from Pakistan that it is willing to crack down on Islamist militia groups operating on its soil – an issue that has largely been obscured in the past two days by fears the two nuclear powers may be sliding into war.”
‘Pakistan Dominating Narrative’
The move by Pakistan PM Imran Khan is “offering a way out of the crisis and seeking to position Pakistan as the cooler head in a confrontation that has put the world on edge,” reported The New York Times.
It reported on the contrasting narratives from both countries, with Pakistan’s military publicity wing demonstrating “a knack for dominating the narrative,” like they did by releasing videos of Wing Commander Varthaman on social media.
The piece continued, “Indian officials insisted that was part of the problem – and made a point of noting that displaying prisoners for propaganda purposes violates the Geneva Conventions.”
The New York Times’ article also said that despite “widespread belief that Pakistan is in no shape right now to wage a major war,” they have been “better about wielding its public information campaigns.”
‘Modi Has Been Criticised For Politicising Conflict’
Al Jazeera also reported on Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s public statements and willingness to talk, referencing Khan’s comment where he “unsuccessfully tried to make a telephone contact” against PM Modi’s silence.
The social media frenzy after Pakistan posted videos of Wing Commander Varthaman and the ensuing hashtags calling for peace from citizens of both countries were also addressed, with Al Jazeera calling the pilot “the human face of the conflict.”
It spoke on the politicisation of the attack, saying, “Modi has also been criticised by Indian opposition parties for politicising the India-Pakistan standoff ahead of India's general elections, due in April and May.”
Pakistan Moves to Ease Crisis
The Washington Post reported on Pakistan making the first move to ease tensions, saying, “Prime Minister Imran Khan said he tried to reach his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Wednesday with a message that he wants to de-escalate tensions.”
It also noted that, “World powers have called on the nations to de-escalate the tensions gripping the contested region since the 14 February suicide bombing.”
The report also briefly mentioned the Indian elections and potential politicising of the crisis saying, “ Just weeks before general elections are due in India, the head of Modi’s party in India’s Karnataka state, BS Yeddyurappa, said India’s pre-dawn airstrikes in Pakistan on Tuesday would help the party at the polls.”
‘No Immediate Reaction From India’
ABC News reported that Pakistan’s “peace gesture” did not receive an “immediate reaction from India, though Modi earlier in the day warned that "India's enemies are conspiring to create instability in the country through terror attacks".
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