IAF Pilot Abhinandan Varthaman in Pakistan custody

New Delhi: In a setback to Inda, an Indian Air Force fighter pilot, identified as Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, was captured alive by the Pakistani military after a dogfight in the skies between his MiG-21 Bison fighter and a Pakistan Air Force fighter on Wednesday after the PAF violated Indian airspace.

India said Pakistan had “responded on Wednesday morning by using its Air Force to target military installations on the Indian side”, and that a Pakistani fighter aircraft was shot down, adding the IAF too lost a MiG-21 fighter. New Delhi also said the Pakistani attempts were foiled successfully by India’s “instant response” and alertness, a day after the IAF struck terror camps of the Jaish-e-Mohammed at Balakot in Pakistan. This was the first duel between the IAF and PAF since the 1971 war.

By Wednesday evening, the Indian government had summoned Pakistan’s acting high commissioner and issued a demarche to lodge a strong protest over the “unprovoked act of aggression”, adding that “India reserves the right to take firm and decisive action” to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

After disturbing footage from Pakistan went viral on the social media of the captured IAF officer being beaten up and later given a cup of tea by his captors, India also strongly objected to “Pakistan’s vulgar display of injured personnel of the IAF in violation of all norms of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Convention”.

New Delhi also told Islamabad “to ensure that no harm comes to the Indian defence personnel in its custody”, adding “India also expects his immediate and safe return”.

Pakistan is likely to treat the captured IAF pilot as a prisoner of war.
The capture evoked memories of another IAF officer, (then Flight Lieutenant) K. Nachiketa, who was captured by the Pakistanis during the Kargil war and later released.

Soon after the capture of the IAF pilot, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan warned against any “miscalculation” in case of an escalation in conflict with India and offered to defuse tensions through talks.

MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said: “Pakistan has responded this morning by using its Air Force to target military installations on the Indian side. Due to our high state of readiness and alertness, Pakistan’s attempts were foiled successfully.

The Pakistan Air Force was detected and the Indian Air Force responded instantly. In that aerial engagement, one Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft was shot down by a MiG-21 Bison of the Indian Air Force. The Pakistani aircraft was seen by ground forces falling from the sky on the Pakistani side. In this engagement, we have unfortunately lost one MiG-21.”