The devil must be given his due. With the safe return of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, Pakistan has not only kept its promise but also shown its respect for provisions of the Geneva Convention. Even this much is a major concession from Pakistan, considering that it had no past record of adhering to such international rules when it came to dealings with India. The Kulbhushan Jadhav saga is an for instance and before that the treatment of Nachiketa.
What Pakistan now touts as a generous gesture is, however, due to the strong position that the Indian government has taken vis-a-vis the immediate return of a captured fighter pilot. At the same time, apparently to shrug off part of the shame Islamabad and Rawalpindi suffered on September 26, Pakistan continues to indulge in provocations along the Line of Control. This could only further aggravate matters.
Wing Commander Abhinandan deserves abhinandan and adulation from all Indians for the way he confronted the Pakistani air formations on February 26. He bravely chased an F16 out of the Indian skies even by daring to cross the Indian side of the skies and he shot it down. Unfortunately, his own MiG-21 Bison was hit by Pakistani fire and he parachuted down to a land which happened to be in the PoK. This is time to salute the bravery of a proud fighter pilot who has a unique family tradition of defending the country from the skies.
The precise manner in which India decimated a terror training headquarters and not inflicting any harm to the civilian population in the predawn strike at Balakot on February 26 earned India more respect. This is the reason why the Organisation of Islamic Countries ignored strong demands from Pakistan to exclude Indian presence at the Abu Dhabi meet of the OIC this week. Even a threat of boycott didn’t help change the mind of host UAE or the OIC as a whole. Finally, Pakistan swallowed its threat. This shows which was the wind is blowing, and how Pakistan gets itself isolated. This is time for the Pakistani establishment to see reason and take meaningful steps to wipe out the terrorist bases there that have been working against India for decades.
Pakistani’s are Indians’ blood brothers, estranged since the time of Partition. Prime Minister Modi had once called up on Pakistan to join hands to fight poverty in the subcontinent through positive steps, rather than promoting terror for mutual disadvantage and disaster. Time Pakistan takes note and acts in positive ways.