The Indian High Commission in Islamabad last evening gave a demarche to Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) for the immediate and safe return of captured IAF pilot, sources said.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also gave a similar demarche to Pakistan’s acting High Commissioner in New Delhi on Wednesday. The Indian government said that it expects the immediate and safe return of the pilot who is in Pakistan’s custody.
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“India also strongly objected to 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. 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,” an MEA statement said on Wednesday.
Pakistan has said there is only one Indian pilot in its custody, retracting an earlier statement that they had not one but two pilots.
On Wednesday, India said it foiled an attempt by Pakistan Air Force to carry out strikes in Jammu and Kashmir by shooting down an F-16 fighter plane while losing its own MiG-21 jet after which a pilot was “missing in action”.
(With inputs from ANI)