On Thursday, the Indian people felt immense joy when it was publicized that the captured Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman by Pakistan will be coming back to India on Friday as announced by the Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. Ahead of the news, the Indian people had a fear of the worst of the situations when the soldier fell in Pakistan after ejecting from his plane following a malfunctioning.
Pakistan soon released a video, showing the soldier being beaten by an angry mob as the entire nation expressed its concerns. Hours later, the unstable neighbors released another video showing the IAF wing commander having a cup of tea stating that he has been treated well. And as the Indians were desperately awaiting any good news regarding Abhinandan, Pakistan PM decided to extend the olive branch by announcing that the captured Indian pilot will be released back to India tomorrow.
Imran Khan made the announcement during his parliamentary address in Islamabad on Thursday. “As a peace gesture, we are releasing Wing Commander tomorrow,” Imran Khan told his Parliament.
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The people have taken to social media to welcome Abhinandan and the cricketing fraternity has not remained far behind. India opener Shikhar Dhawan has also welcomed Abhinandan. Reacting to the news of his homecoming, Dhawan took to Twitter and wrote, “Eagerly waiting for our braveheart to return home. #WelcomeBackAbhinandan.”
Eagerly waiting for our braveheart to return home. 🙏 #WelcomeBackAbhinandan
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) February 28, 2019
From the past 15 days, the political tension between the two countries has been at the all high-time high after the Pulwama attack resulted in more than 40 CRPF personnel losing their lives. Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has claimed the responsibility of the attack. In reply, the Indian Air Force had carried out air strikes way beyond the Line of Control on February 26, targeting JeM terror training camps in Balakot. According to reports, around 300 terrorists were killed in the ‘non-military preemptive’ strike.
The attack has also impacted cricket and there were widespread calls to boycott Pakistan in the upcoming World Cup. BCCI later wrote to the ICC to expressing the security concerns of the players and the fans. India and Pakistan are scheduled to meet against each other on June 16 in Manchester.
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However, the ICC, on Wednesday, assured the BCCI that if the need arises, it will “uplift the security based on the advice of relevant agencies’ to address India’s concern.
