Welcome Abhinandan!

Let’s give the devil its due- a thanks. Let’s be magnanimous in victory. On Wednesday, Wing Commander Abhinandan was captured by Pakistan Army after his fighter jet crashed in an air duel with a Pakistani F-16 and he fell into Pakistani territory.

On 28 February, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said that Pakistan would release IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan on Friday as a ‘peace gesture’ while addressing Pakistan’s Parliament.

India erupted in joy after it became clear that Abhinandan Varthaman has been released. The great dog fight that ensued when MIG fighter jet pilot Abhinandan with F-16 Pakistan air force jet speaks volumes of the intelligence, bravery and commitment.

The heroism, gallantry, flying skills and immovable determination displayed by Indian fighter pilots during the 1971 liberation war of Bangladesh is the subject of a new bench mark globally.

MIG though has done a great service is being phased out and Pakistani F-16 is the state of the art jet fighter courtesy USA. Just imagine if he were to have a Mirge or Rafale. Probably he would have downed all the F-16 PAF jets himself.

However, war means something else for the soldiers and officers who are used as cannon fodder. The worst fate though befalls those who are captured by the enemy, especially if they happen to be soldiers. Still 54 army men who are believed to be rotting in Pakistani jails since the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

The experiences of POWs are finely drawn. A fighter pilot’s life in actual combat, where death is but a glorious martyrdom, is juxtaposed with the tepid, monotonous and uninspiring life of prison, where brave, fearless soldiers ponder over the inevitability and futility of war.

Thank god that Abhinandan was spared this torture. the first video of Abhinandan Varthaman surfaced — he was seen answering questions politely, in a blindfold. He was not identified at the press conference, but his name and service number in the video.

War means different things to different people. For business connected with war armament and supplies, it is an occasion to make quick and big money. For the ruling politicians, it provides a fertile ground for jingoism. Many of those who are killed in some dramatic battle might receive a posthumous awards and rewards, but most remain anonymous, mere statistics for the chronicle writers.

Pakistan’s “vulgar display” of the injured Indian Air Force officer in “violation of all norms of International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Convention was expected as it has distinguished itself in torturing the pOWs. They refused to even acknowledge their own army jawans who died in the kargil war. Indians had to arrange them a decent burial with military honors.

When the mutilated bodies of Captain SaurabhKalia and his patrol were handed back by Pakistan, the postmortem revealed that the Pakistan army had indulged in the most heinous acts.

The Long, purposeless incarceration in enemy jail. Feelings of abandonment and neglect by our own countrymen is a sad story.All this interspersed with peace. Peace worse than war,” writes Jaffa, feeling betrayed that the gains made in the battlefield on the back of soldiers’ lives were ceded to Pakistan during diplomatic talks.

Now that Abhinandan has returned safe and healthy without the infamous Pakistani torture, let us give the devil in Pakistan thanks. Let’s be magnanimous in victory.