ISLAMABAD: The government on Wednesday for the first time named the pilotswho shot down two Indian warplanes last week, in a rare aerial engagementwhich had ignited fears of an all-out conflict with its nuclear rival.
The dogfight over the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir on February27 ended with two Indian Air Force fighter jets downed and a pilot capturedby the Pakistani security forces.
He was returned to India on Friday, crossing the Wagah border on foot.
The clash also fuelled fears that soaring tensions between the South Asiancountries could erupt into their fourth war, with world powers rushing tourge restraint.
“Two Indian planes were shot down by Pakistan Air Force on February 27,”Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told parliament Wednesday.
He named them as Squadron Leader Hassan Siddiqui and Wing Commander NaumanAli Khan, saying he wanted to “pay tribute” to them both.
Siddiqui had been widely named in unverified comments on social media.
Tensions escalated dramatically between Pakistan and India on February 14when a young man – a native of Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) – rammed anexplosives-laden car into an Indian military convoy, killing at least 44soldiers.
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India was quick to blame Pakistan for the suicide bombing. PM Imran offeredevery possible help in the investigation, but India turned down the offerand whipped up war hysteria.
On February 26, the Indian Air Force violated Pakistani airspace. Thecountry’s top civil and military leadership declared the violation ofairspace by Indian fighter jets “uncalled for aggression” and decided thatthe country would respond at a “time and place of its choosing”.
On February 27, Pakistan announced it had shot down two Indian fighter jetsthat attempted to violate its airspace and captured an Indian pilot.
On February 28, the Foreign Office said it received a dossier on thePulwama attack from the Indian government. It added that the government wasdeliberating whether to treat Abhinandan as a prisoner of war (POW) orapply any international convention.
In the evening, PM Imran addressed a joint session of the parliament andannounced that Pakistan would release the captured pilot as a goodwillgesture to de-escalate tensions.
On March 1, Pakistan ‘as a goodwill gesture’ handed over to Indianauthorities the captured IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. – APP/AFP
