Daily Times

Pakistan Army on Thursday termed the statement by PML-N leader and National Assembly former speaker Ayaz Sadiq on the release of Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan as an attempt to distort history and tarnish Pakistan’s success against the Indian aggression.

Ayaz Sadiq on Wednesday had claimed that Pakistan agreed to return the captured Indian Air Force Pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan as it feared an attack by India in February last. Prime Minister Imran Khan had announced the release of the felled Indian Mig aircraft pilot as a ‘goodwill gesture’.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Babar Iftikhar told a press conference that Pakistan gave India a bloody nose and it still hurts. He said the one-point agenda of the press conference was to correct the facts.

The DG ISPR said Pakistan’s armed forces that were already on high alert had given a befitting response to India after its abortive attempt to strike inside Pakistani territory on February 26, 2019, on a purported training camp near Balakot. “The enemy aircraft that had entered Pakistan airspace to drop explosives escaped while dropping their payload on empty mountains in sheer panic after seeing our Shaheens,” Major General Babar Iftikhar said.

He said the armed forces and the country’s leadership are united in their objective to teach India a lesson. He said Pakistan responded to India in broad daylight after announcing it. “Not only we gave them a proper response, but also shot down two enemy war planes and captured Wing Commander Abhinandan,” he added.

Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar said viewing the decision to release Abhinandan as anything other than ‘the mature response of a responsible state’ is highly regrettable. He said after the Pulwama incident, on February 26, India violated all international principles to attack Pakistan. “They not only faced defeat, but humiliation all over the world,” he stated. “Our timely response derailed their efforts. Their planes and the explosives they had come to rain down on the Pakistani people were instead dropped on empty mountains. They left in a panicked state after being confronted by our planes.”

He said that, in response, on February 27, the Pakistan Army sought to ‘teach the enemy a lesson’. “On this decision, the entire civil and military leadership was on a single page. We responded with full might in the light of day and shot down two planes, along with arresting their pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan [Varthaman],” the DG ISPR said, recalling the events. He said that the enemy was in such a panicked state that it shot down its own helicopter.

Maj Gen Iftikhar said that Pakistan secured a ‘clear victory’ that day against India. He said not only was India’s hollow preparedness exposed that day, the entire Pakistani nation’s heads were held high. He said this triumph was not only celebrated in Pakistan, it was recognised by the entire world. “India [publicly] held the non-availability of Rafale jets accountable for its defeat,” he added.

The DG ISPR said that the Government of Pakistan, in a measured and responsible move, decided to ‘give peace a chance’ and hand over captured war prisoner Wing Commander Abhinandan. He recalled that the move, which was in accordance with the Geneva Convention, was lauded the world over. “I wish to set the history straight once more. Pakistan first demonstrated it capability and resolve. The decision was then made keeping all war options in mind and from a position of strength,” Maj Gen Iftikhar said.

He stressed that the civil and military leadership are prepared to combat “any sort of situation” with full preparedness. He said that linking the mature response of a responsible state with regard to Abhinandan’s release to anything else is highly regrettable and misleading. “This is actually tantamount to making Pakistan having the upper hand on India and securing victory against it, controversial,” he said.

Maj Gen Iftikhar said he thinks this would be unacceptable to any Pakistani. “For such a negative statement to be aired live has effects on national security,” he continued. “The enemy is taking great advantage of this and this is reflected in Indian media.” He said the enemy has already waged a hybrid war on Pakistan “and we all must proceed with caution and great responsibility”.

At the end of the briefing, as the major general sought to leave the podium, he was prompted by a journalist to give his take on “recent statements which could create a rift between the armed forces’ leadership and soldiers”. To this, he responded by saying, “The armed forces are an organised institution. No divide can be created between the armed forces’ leadership and its rank and file.” “No difference can be created between them. There is unity and this unity shall always remain,” he added. news desk