Captured Indian pilot at centre of Kashmir crisis to be released

Islamabad:- The captured Indian fighter pilot, who was attacked by a mob and then paraded on video by Pakistan's army, will be released, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has said. 

"We have an Indian pilot. As a peace gesture we will release him tomorrow," Khan told a joint sitting of parliament in capital Islamabad on Thursday.

Khan also said he had unsuccessfully tried to make a telephone contact with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Wednesday night. 

"Yesterday, I tried to call Narendra Modi," Khan said. "I wanted to make it clear that we do not want any kind of escalation."

Following Pakistani villagers and soldiers filming his capture and captivity on Wednesday in video clips that have since gone viral on social media, the pilot - identified by Islamabad as Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman - fast emerged as the human face of the dangerous flare-up between the arch enemies.

Varthaman and the Indian Air Force (IAF) have been at the heart of the crisis between India and Pakistan after the latter claimed to have shot down two Indian fighter jets in response to the bombing of alleged "terror" targets inside Pakistan on Tuesday morning.

Earlier, India said there will be "no deal" on the captured pilot, local news channel NDTV reported on Thursday, attributing government sources.

"We want him back," sources said. "If Pakistan thinks that they have a card to negotiate with, they do not."

Tensions have flared since a suicide car bombing by Pakistan-based armed group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in India-administered Kashmir killed at least 42 Indian paramilitary forces on February 14.

But the risk of an all-out armed conflict rose dramatically on Tuesday when India launched air raids on what it claimed was a JeM training camp.

Storm on social media

In a video posted on social media, the Indian pilot could be seen in ankle-deep stream of water, his face bloodied as he is assaulted by a group of men in disputed Kashmir.

In another video, the pilot is seen blindfolded and can be heard saying, "I've got hurt and I would request some water." He then reveals his name and rank before politely fending off questions from soldiers by saying: "I'm not supposed to tell you that."

In another video, posted on Twitter by Pakistan's state broadcaster, PTV news, the pilot is shown relaxed while saying, "I would like to put this on record and I would not change my statement if I go back to my country. The officers of the Pakistan Army have looked after me very well. They are thorough gentlemen."

Pakistan army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted a photo of the pilot and said he was "being treated as per norms of military ethics". Pakistani tweeters said he was shown exemplary hospitality.

'A vulgar display'

However, in a statement released by its foreign ministry, India branded Pakistan's videos as a "vulgar display" of an injured airman, saying they violated international humanitarian laws and the Geneva Convention. 

"Pakistan would be well advised to ensure that no harm comes to the Indian defence personnel in its custody. India also expects his immediate and safe return," read the statement.

India has yet to respond to the news of the pilot's planned release.

The airman's treatment at the hands of Pakistani troops drew both condemnation and praise.

Following the release of a picture of the pilot, social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp were inundated with old videos and photos of him.

Many Indian users expressed their concern, hoping for Varthaman's return, with hashtags #BringHimHome and #AbhinandanMyHero being the top two trends on Indian Twitter on Wednesday evening.