India welcomes Pakistan’s planned return of captured pilot

cde.news desk 1 March 2019, 09:00 · 1 min read

epa07404615 Indian Security personnel stand guard at Raisina Hills in New Delhi, India, 28 February 2019. Security is tighten and on the highest alert at the Indian border area after Pakistan Army on 27 February 2019 stated it shot down two Indian fighter jets that were flying in its airspace. The incident came a day after India had claimed that its warplanes bombed a militant training camp and killed a large number of militants near the Line of Control (LoC) inside Pakistan as International community asks India, Pakistan to find diplomatic solutions. EPA-EFE/RAJAT GUPTA

Indian military officials said on Thursday they welcomed Pakistan’s planned return of a captured pilot, but refused to confirm they would de-escalate a conflict between the two nuclear powers.

The pilot, identified as Wing Commander Abhinandan, became the human face of the flare-up over the contested region of Kashmir following the release of videos showing him being captured and later held in custody.

“We are happy our pilot is being released,” said Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor, at a joint news conference of India’s three armed forces Thursday evening. He did not say when asked by reporters if India considered the pilot’s return a de-escalation in the conflict.

Via CBC

Topics India Pakistan