Pakistan releases an edited video just before releasing Abhinandan

March 1: The Indian Air Force today said that it only sees Pakistan’s decision to release captured Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman as an action being taken in keeping with the Geneva Convention. “As far as the IAF is concerned, we are happy that our pilot – who is in Pakistan’s custody – is returning… but we only see it as a gesture in compliance with the Geneva Convention,” Air-Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor said at a joint briefing of the Army, Air Force and the Navy today.

Wing Commander’s return was delayed as he was made to record a video statement by Pakistan authorities before he was allowed to cross the border, news agency PTI has reported, quoting sources. The video was released by the Pakistani government to its media at 9 pm (IST).

In the video, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman says he crossed the Line of Control to “find a target”, but his fighter jet was shot down. “The army personnel saved me from the mob. The Pakistani army is very professional and I am impressed by it,” the pilot says in the video, that seems to be edited and has at least 15 cuts.

Wing Commander Varthaman, son of a decorated IAF veteran, was captured by Pakistan after his jet went down following a strike by an enemy missile. Varthaman’s MiG 21 was shot and he bailed out after bringing down one Pakistani F-16 fighter during a dogfight to repel a Pakistani attack on Wednesday morning. He has been in Pakistan since then.

Various videos were circulated by Pakistani accounts. In one of the videos, 34-year-old was seen being dragged. India called it “Pakistan’s vulgar display of injured personnel of the Indian Air Force in violation of all norms of International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Convention.” In the second one, the pilot is blindfolded and wounded; he gives his name, service number and religion and said, “That is all I am supposed to tell you”.

Later, the videos were taken off as Pakistan was accused of violating the Geneva Convention. Later in the evening, a third video emerged which showed the pilot sipping tea and his wound looked less severe. The videos and photographs fuelled a wave of messages on social media and hashtags like #BringBackAbhinandan and #Abhinandanmyhero. Abhinandan was finally released on friday after 9 PM.