Indian pilot Abhinandan’s release: DG ISPR rejects ‘revelations’ by PML-N leader

ISLAMABAD: Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations Major-General Babar Iftikhar Thursday said, "It is extremely disappointing and misleading to link Wing Commander Abhinandan's release with anything other than a responsible state's mature response.”

During a press conference, the DG ISPR said raising question about Indian Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman release, was an attempt to distort history of Pakistan’s victory.

He briefed the media on one-point agenda just to set the record straight on the IAF Commander Abhinandan's release.

He said everything was on record; the way Pakistan armed forces made India's nefarious plan into a failure, should be acknowledged.

Pakistan armed forces are all the time ready to respond to India in a befitting manner.

He expressed concerns over the statement of (Ayaz Sadiq) regarding release of Abhinandan.

The DG ISPR said Pakistan’s armed forces were already on high alert and gave a befitting response to India after its abortive attempt to strike inside Pakistani territory on 26 February 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 were 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 said.

The DG ISPR said Pakistan's victory was not only acknowledged by the world but the Indian leadership had attributed their forces' failure to the absence of Rafale fighter jets.

"Being a responsible state, the Government of Pakistan in order to give peace another chance decided to release Indian prisoner of war Wing Commander Abhinandan," he said, while emphasising that this decision, which was in line with the Geneva Convention, was praised by the international community.

"I want to make it clear once again for the sake of record that Pakistan first showed its capability and resolve and this decision was taken keeping in view all warfare options from a position of strength. Pakistan's leadership and the armed forces were fully prepared to deal with any situation.”

"We gave them a bloody nose and it is still hurting," he said, while referring to Pakistan's response to India's violation of its airspace.

"It is extremely disappointing and misleading to link Wing Commander Abhinandan's release with anything other than a responsible state's mature response.”

"This is in fact equivalent to making controversial the Pakistani nation's clear supremacy and victory over India, and I think this is not acceptable to any Pakistani."

Maj Gen Iftikhar said such negative narrative directly affects national security and the enemy is taking thorough advantage of these things in the information domain, and you all can see a glimpse of this in the Indian media.

"This same narrative is being used to minimise India's defeat and loss," he continued.

"In these conditions, when enemy forces have imposed a hybrid war on Pakistan, we will all have to move forward with great responsibility."

He said the Pakistan Army "is keeping a close eye on the regional security situation and is not only aware of internal and external threats but is also ready to counter all kinds of challenges".

"With the nation's help, we will foil every conspiracy against Pakistan and give proportionate response to any aggression," he added.

In response to a question of a journalist about recent statements of politicians of opposition parties regarding top leadership of the army, the DG ISPR said: "The armed forces are an organised institution and its leadership and rank and file cannot be separated.”

"No difference can be created between the leadership and rank and file of the armed forces. There is a unity and it will remain."

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020