New Delhi: India has summoned the Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan Syed Haider Shah and said Islamabad should ensure the “immediate and safe” return of the Air Force pilot being held captive.
“India also strongly objected to Pakistan’s vulgar display of an injured personnel of the Indian Air Force in violation of all norms of International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Convention. It was made clear that 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,” the MEA said in a statement Wednesday evening.
Pakistani military spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor announced that they had captured Indian Air Force’s Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. The air forces of both countries were in an aerial engagement on Tuesday morning after Pakistani jets entered India.
Shah, who is the acting High Commissioner of Pakistan in the absence of Sohail Mahmood who is back in Pakistan, was summoned by the MEA “to lodge a strong protest at the unprovoked act of aggression by Pakistan against India earlier today, including violation of the Indian air space by Pakistan Air Force and targeting of Indian military posts”.
India also handed over a dossier to Pakistan, giving details on Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) complicity in the Pulwama attack — “actionable intelligence” that Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan had sought from India in the wake of the 14 February attack.
“A dossier was handed over to Pakistan side with specific details of JeM complicity in Pulwama terror attack and the presence of JeM terror camps and its leadership in Pakistan. It was conveyed that India expects Pakistan to take immediate and verifiable action against terrorism emanating from territories under its control,” MEA said.
‘Pakistan has acted with aggression’
India on Tuesday had carried out non-military preemptive strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan’s Balakot based on “credible intelligence” that the outfit was planning more terror attacks.
MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had stated that while India only targeted the terror camps of JeM inside Pakistan, Islamabad responded by targeting India’s military establishment.
“It is unfortunate that instead of fulfilling its international obligation and bilateral commitment to take credible action against terrorist entities and individuals operating from its soil, Pakistan has acted with aggression against India. It was clearly conveyed that India reserves the right to take firm and decisive action to protect its national security, sovereignty and territorial integrity against any act of aggression or cross-border terrorism,” the MEA said.
The ministry also expressed regret to the Pakistan envoy at the continuing denial by Pakistan’s political and military leadership at the presence of terrorist infrastructure in territories under its control.
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