IAF on Pakistan releasing Pilot Abhinandan: 'Gesture' in consonance with Geneva Conventions

The Indian Air Force on Thursday in the joint press briefing on Pakistan declaration of releasing IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman as ‘peace gesture’ said that it only sees its decision to release captured IAF Pilot as an action being taken in keeping with the Geneva Convention.

"As far as the IAF is concerned, we are happy that our pilot - who is in Pakistan's custody - is returning... but we only see it as a gesture in compliance with the Geneva Convention," Air-Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor said at a joint briefing of the Army, Air Force and the Navy.

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Minutes before scheduled joint press briefing of Tri-services at 5 pm, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan that they will be releasing Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman tomorrow (Friday) in a ‘peace gesture.’

Notably, the press briefing of Tri-services was postponed couple for hours after Imran Khan’s announcement. Later, in a joint press meet, Air-Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor told media, “We are happy that our pilot who had fallen across the Line of Control and was in custody of Pakistan is being released, we're extremely happy to have him back.”

Further, the Army, Air Force and the Navy in joint press briefing exposed Pakistan’s lie and showed proof of that Paki violated Indian air space and used F-16 in the operation, that it keeps denying.

Speaking on Pakistan’s denial, Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor said that Pakistan has made many "factually incorrect statements." “There is enough evidence to show that F-16s were used in this mission through their electronic signatures. Parts of AMRAAM, air to air missile which is carried only on the Pakistani F-16s was recovered east of Rajouri within the Indian territory,” said Air-Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor in the joint briefing.

“We have evidence to show that whatever we wanted to do and targets we wanted to destroy, we have done that. The decision to show the evidence is on senior leadership,” said Air-Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor over IAF strikes on Jaish camp in Balakot. However, he said it's premature to say a number of casualties on the camp, whatever we intended to destroy we got that result.

Imran Khan had announced his government's decision to release Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman at a joint session of the Pakistan Parliament. "In our desire of peace, I announce that as the first step to open negotiations, Pakistan will release the Indian Air Force officer in our custody tomorrow," he said, but cautioned that the move should not be viewed as a "sign of weakness".

Also read: If Pak provokes, we're ready for resolute action: Joint briefing by Army, Navy, Air Force