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Full coverage of Indian Armed Forces’ statements after Pakistan’s attempted attack on Indian military installations

OpIndia Staff
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Full coverage of Indian Armed Forces’ statements after Pakistan’s attempted attack on Indian military installations

At 7:00 PM today, Chiefs from the Indian Army, Navy and Airforce held a press conference to apprise the media and the nation at large about the nefarious activities of Pakistan against India in the recent days. This is the first statement by the Indian Armed Forces after India carried out airstrikes deep inside Pakistan territory, right up to Balakot, flattening Jaish-e-Mohammad terror camps, as a response to the Pulwama terror attack. Following the airstrikes, Pakistan has breached Indian airspace and attempted to attack Indian military installations. Thwarting the attempt, India lost one MiG21 and shot down one of Pakistan’s F16. After the Pakistani aggression, Wing Commander Abhinandan Vartaman was taken captive by Pakistan and now, per the Geneva convention, Imran Khan as asserted that Wing Commander will be returning to India tomorrow. 

Statement by Indian Air Force on Pakistan aggression

The Indian Airforce Chief was the first to deliver a statement. Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor said that IAF fighters were tasked to intercept the intruding Pakistani aircraft and managed to thwart them. Although PAF jets dropped bombs, they were not able to cause any damage. This was pertaining to the events of yesterday when Pakistani F-16s infiltrated the Indian airspace and attempted to attack Indian military installations.

Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor said that Pakistan had earlier said that they had shot down 2 IAF aircraft and that 3 Indian pilots were in Pakistani custody. Later, they revised the figure to 2 IAF jets and 2 Pilots.

He said the fact is that people saw 2 parachutes falling in POJK (Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir). Pakistan l changed their statement to say, 1 Indian pilot was in captivity and this admission came only late in the evening.

He said Pakistan has also claimed that they intentionally dropped weapons in open space where there was no humans or military presence. The fact is, however, they targeted military installations but were intercepted effectively by an ever-ready Indian Airforce and Pakistani plans were thwarted.

Air Vice Marshal Bombs then made a startling revelation. He said that the Pakistani Airforce dropped bombs which fell in army compounds but couldn’t cause damage.

He said Pakistan had also claimed that F-16s were not used in this ‘operation’ against India and that no planes were downed by the Indian Airforce. However, he said that there is enough evidence that Pakistan not only used F16s but also tried to deliberately bomb Indian military installations.

He said that every jet leaves their electronic signatures and that the Indian Airforce can ascertain through electronic signatures which jet was used in the attack.

He said that a part of AMRAM missile which was used to attack Indian military installations was in the possession of the Indian armed forces. These missiles are only carried on F16 jets. These parts were recovered east of Rajouri.

He said that the fact remains that one Pakistani F16 was shot down by Indian MiG 21 Bison. He ended his statement by saying that the Indian Airforce is ready to take on any eventuality. He also said that Indian Airforce has heard that Wing Commander Abhinandan is about to come home and they welcome their pilot back.

Statement by Indian Army on Pakistan aggression

Maj Gen Surinder Singh Bagal said, “We continue to maintain strict vigil along both, the Line of Control and the IB sector. Ground-based air defence weapon systems have been put on high alert all along the LoC and also in some parts of the IB. Our mechanized forces have also been put on standby.”

Major General Bagal assured the nation that India was prepared for any contingency. He stated, “I wish to assure the nation that we are fully prepared and in a heightened state of readiness to respond to any provocation by Pakistan. Despite the turn of events, as you are all aware, the Indian Army is committed to maintaining peace and stability in the region.”

He also asserted that the Army “will continue to act against agencies which harbour inimical designs against India and the citizens of our country.”

Statement of Indian Navy on Pakistan aggression

Navy Rear Admiral DS Gujral said, ‘We are ready for any misadventure by Pakistan and we are ready for resolute action. We want to ensure the safety and security of our citizens’.

He said that the Navy stands united with the Army and Indian Airforce to thwart any misadventure by Pakistan.

Evidence that F16 used by Pakistan to target Indian military installations provided

In a joint press conference today, the representative of all three wings of the Indian Armed Forces, Army, Navy and the Airforce today exposed Pakistan’s lies and provided evidence that Pakistan had indeed used F16s to target Indian military installations, an attempt that was thwarted by the Indian Air Force.

The Indian Air Force displayed pieces of the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile that was used to target our military installations. The pieces of this missile were found next to Rajouri, in Indian territory. The air to air missile is an American made missile which can be carried only on the American made F16.

Evidence provided by Indian Armed Forces of Pakistan using F16 to attack Indian military assets
Evidence provided by Indian Armed Forces of Pakistan using F16 to attack Indian military assets

The evidence of Pakistan using F16 to attack Indian military installations is significant since America had sold F16 to Pakistan with an end-use monitoring agreement. This meant that Pakistan could use F16 for self-defence but not for aggression against any country. With this evidence, India has also proved that Pakistan has not stuck to its agreement with the USA.

Indian Armed Forces take media questions: ‘As long as Pakistan continues to harbour terrorists, we will continue to target the terror camps’

The representative of all three wings of the Indian Armed Forces, Army, Navy and the Airforce took few questions from journalists belonging to various media organisations. Here are the replies to the questions.


Following are the questions asked and the answers provided:

Q. Do you consider Pakistan targetting Indian military establishment as an act of war?

A: There is no doubt that Pakistan targetted our military installation. We responded swiftly because of which their designs to deliver their bomb load at the intended target was thwarted. That is the task of the Air force which it did swiftly and responsibly, said Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor.

Q: After the air strikes, what is the status of tensions and ceasefire violations across the Line of Control?

A: Our war is against Terrorism. As long as Pakistan continues to harbour terrorists, we will continue to target the terror camps. The ceasefire has increased after February 24th. There have been at least 35 ceasefire violations in the past two days. The Indian Army has responded to the ceasefire with the same intensity, said Major General Surendra Singh Mahal.

Q: Pakistan is pressing for de-escalation. What is the assessment from the Indian Military brass? Is the situation going to escalate or normalise?

A: They targeted military installations on 27 February. Escalation has done by them. We were well prepared. We are prepared for any contingencies, said Major General Surendra Singh Mahal.

Q: Can you give us the damage assessment of the Indian Airstrikes on terror camps?

A: Premature to say the number of casualties on the camp, whatever we intended to destroy we got that result, said aid Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor.

Q: Do we have any evidence against Pakistan claim of no-hit on its airforce jets?

A: There is enough evidence to show that F-16s were used in this mission through their electronic signatures. Parts of AMRAAM, air to air missile which is carried only on the Pakistani F-16s was recovered east of Rajouri within the Indian territory, indicating that Pakistan has indeed used F-16. No other Pakistani Aircraft can carry AMRAAM missiles, replied Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor.

Q: What were the Pakistani strike package and India’s Strike Package?

A: Pakistani package had JF-17, F-16 and some Mirages. India had scrambled Mirage-2000, Mig-21 and Sukhoi-30 Mki, replied Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor.

Q: What are the forces saying in response to Pakistan sending Wing Commander Abhijit back? 

A: We are happy that our pilot who had fallen across the Line of Control and was in custody of Pakistan is being released, we’re extremely happy to have him back. We only see it as a gesture which is in consonance with all Geneva conventions, said Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor.

Q: Do you see this as a goodwill gesture?

A: We see this as a gesture in keeping with the Geneva Convention, replied Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor.

It is indeed intriguing that Indian media repeatedly asked whether India is grateful to Pakistan for vowing to return Wing Commander Abhinandan. Indian Armed Forces were firm in their stand that Pakistan is adhering to the Geneva convention. Also, the Armed Forces have made amply clear that Pakistan tried to attack our military installations and that India is ready for any and all eventualities and would continue to target terror bases as long as Pakistan continues to harbour terrorists.

IT ministry asks Youtube to remove 11 videos of IAF wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman who is in Pakistan’s captivity

OpIndia Staff
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IT ministry asks Youtube to remove 11 videos of IAF wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman who is in Pakistan’s captivity

Following a directive from the Home Ministry, the Information and Technology ministry has asked Youtube today to remove 11 video links pertaining to Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was captured by the Pakistan army following air combat on Wednesday.

A Google (which runs Youtube) spokesperson said that the company abides by “valid legal requests from authorities wherever possible, consistent with our longstanding policy and act quickly to remove such material”, adding that the “data on government requests to remove content from Google services is regularly updated in our transparency report.”

Meanwhile, sources from the IT Ministry confirmed that all the links pertaining to the videos which were circulating on social media extensively have been removed by Youtube.

Pakistan authorities held wing commander Abhinandan in captivity after his MiG-21 Bison crashed in PoK yesterday while attempting to hunt back Pakistan Air Force fighters which had entered the Indian air space attempting to attack the Indian military bases.

Following India’s air strike on terror camps in Pakistan on the early hours of 26th February, more than 20 Pakistan Air Force fighters, according to latest reports by the MEA, had tried to enter the Indian air space, but they were chased back by Indian Air Force MiG-21 jets which were on Combat Air Patrol (CAP) at that time. Indian jets had shot down an F-16 jet of Pakistan, while a MiG-21 had crashed inside Pakistan controlled Kashmir and subsequently commander Abhinandan who was flying the jet fell prey to the Pakistanis.

In the aftermath of the crash, the Pakistan Army, violating the norms under the Geneva Convention, released the videos of Indian fighter pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman being captured and interrogated under captivity.

The videos circulated online showed the pilot pulled from the wreckage and was beaten by the mob before the Pakistan Army dispersed the mob. Another video had shown him revealing his identity as asked by the Pakistani military officers. In another video, the brave Indian soldier was shown sipping his tea while refusing to answer specific questions about his aircraft and mission.

These videos started widely being circulated on Social media platforms like Twitter, Whatsapp, Youtube and Facebook.

On Wednesday, India Government had rightly pointed out that Pakistan breached norms of International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Convention by its ‘vulgar display of injured personnel’.

In its demarche, India noted, “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.”

In the latest, Pakistan Prime Minister, Imran Khan has confirmed the release Wing Commander Abhinandan tomorrow “as a peace gesture”. However, if Pakistan is assuming that India would submit to this eyewash, Pakistan is highly mistaken as India has already cleared its stand that for any talks to take place between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan PM Imran Khan, first, Imran Khan needs to take ‘Immediately, credible and verifiable’ action against terrorism that breeds on its soil.

Indian Armed Forces provide evidence that Pakistan used F16 for its aggression against Indian military assets. Here is why it’s important

OpIndia Staff
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Indian Armed Forces provide evidence that Pakistan used F16 for its aggression against Indian military assets. Here is why it’s important

In a joint press conference today, the representative of all three wings of the Indian Armed Forces, Army, Navy and the Airforce today exposed Pakistan’s lies and provided evidence that Pakistan had indeed used F16s to target Indian military installations, an attempt that was thwarted by the Indian Air Force.

The Indian Air Force displayed pieces of the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile that was used to target our military installations. The pieces of this missile were found next to Rajouri, in Indian territory. The air to air missile is an American made missile which can be carried only on the American made F16.

The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM (pronounced amm-RAM), is a modern American beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) capable of all-weather day-and-night operations. Designed with a 7-inch (180mm) diameter form-and-fit factor, and employing active transmit-receive radar guidance instead of semi-active receive-only radar guidance, it has the advantage of being a fire-and-forget weapon when compared to the previous generation Sparrow missiles.

This proof provided by the Indian Airforce becomes significant because when America supplied the F16s to Pakistan, it came with an end-use monitoring agreement. This meant that Pakistan was allowed to use the F16s for self-defence and anti-terrorism operations but not for aggression against another country or for escalation of tensions.

What Pakistan did was use the F16 for aggression against India and that too, to target Indian military installations. This would traditionally be considered an act of war against a sovereign state, something which was not allowed under the end-use monitoring agreement between America and Pakistan.

In fact, after this dastardly escalation by Pakistan, the United States of America had communicated to Pakistan in strong terms that Pakistan was not allowed to use the F16 for any other purpose other than self-defence without prior permission of USA.

The proof provided by India has proved beyond reasonable doubt that Pakistan was in contravention of the end-use monitoring agreement between USA and Pakistan by using the F16 and the AMRAAM missile for unprovoked aggression against Indian sovereignty.

India had carried out airstrikes deep inside Pakistan territory, going all the way up to Balakot. Pakistan had responded to India destroying Jaish-e-Mohammed camps by attacking India’s military installations almost signalling to the world that the JeM and other terrorist organisations are the unofficial armies of Pakistan.

Repeated ceasefire violations from Pakistan amidst calls for peace by PM Imran Khan

OpIndia Staff
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Repeated ceasefire violations from Pakistan amidst calls for peace by PM Imran Khan

Amidst the calls for ‘peace’ by Pakistan PM Imran Khan, the situation on the LoC in multiple border areas of J&K remain tense as Pakistan is indulging in ceasefire violations. On one hand, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan exhorts India to have peace ‘talks’, on the other, his Army is resorting to unprovoked firing on the LoC. As per the latest reports, multiple ceasefire violations have been reported since yesterday.


The situation between the two nations escalated after Pakistan sought to attack the Indian Military bases in retaliation to India’s air strikes on terror camps in Pakistan. Pakistan Air Force fighters had tried to enter the Indian air space, but they were chased back by Indian Air Force MiG-21 jets which were on Combat Air Patrol (CAP) at that time. Indian jets had shot down an F-16 jet of Pakistan, while a MiG-21 had crashed inside Pakistan controlled Kashmir, and the pilot was captured by locals and handed over to Pakistani Army. According to new revelation, 20 PAF jets had violated the Indian airspace.

Pakistan is reeling under an economic crisis and has been isolated diplomatically. Efforts are being mounted by the Indian government to further alienate the country and pressurise it to act against the terror groups harboured by them. Pakistan is here indulging in psychological warfare, sending a message to the world that it is ready to placate the situation, while continuing its aggression on the ground along the border.

However, Pak PM Imran Khan’s exhortations appear as a red herring as the Pakistan Army continues to wage war by multiple ceasefire violations across the LoC. So instead of preaching sermons to India on peace, Khan should put money where his mouth is and rein in his army which is repeatedly exhibiting unwarranted aggression against India. It appears disingenuous on Pak PM’s part to wax eloquent on peace while his army continues its belligerence unabated against India.

With Wing Commander Abhinandan’s unconditional release, Imran Khan gave us a glimpse of ‘New India’, not ‘Naya Pakistan’

K Bhattacharjee
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With Wing Commander Abhinandan’s unconditional release, Imran Khan gave us a glimpse of ‘New India’, not ‘Naya Pakistan’

As we had reported earlier, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman will be released tomorrow without any preconditions “as a peace gesture”. The decision comes after India had made it clear that there was no scope for any negotiations for his released and it fully expected him to be returned immediately safe and sound. In fact, India had also asserted that it won’t be demanding consular access because our demand is of unconditional release.

While many would buy into the ‘peace gesture’ propaganda, it ought to be remembered that Pakistan was bound by international conventions to return Wing Commander Abhinandan safely. Also, even yesterday, after violating Indian airspace and attempting to attack Indian military installations in an obvious escalation, Imran Khan had proposed talks between the two countries. Even earlier today, Pakistan attempted to intrude upon Indian airspace before being chased away by Indian jets.

Thus, Abhinandan’s release ought to be seen as a glimpse of a ‘New India’, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, rather than ‘Naya Pakistan’ as proposed by his Pakistani counterpart. Unlike an infamous incident in the past, on this occasion, India did not bow, bend or break. India stood strong and reminded Pakistan that it was bound by international conventions to return him safely.

Consider the events of the past couple of days. India attacked terrorist camps within Pakistani territory, not just in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir in response to the Pulwama terror attack. Conducting airstrikes inside the territory of a nuclear armed country is itself unprecedented. Consequently, India received widespread international support for its actions while Pakistan was deserted even by their ‘all-weather friend’ China which directed them to exercise restraint.

On the backdrop for our airstrikes within Pakistani territory, it responded by attempting to attack Indian military installations. In the skirmish that ensued, Wing Commander Abhinandan shot down an F16, the best jet in Pakistan’s airforce, while riding a vintage Mig himself. Pakistan eventually manages to take him into custody but how do events unfold from there on? It has decided to release him unconditionally.

There has been a tectonic shift in the manner in which India is expected to deal with Pakistani terrorists henceforth. Of course, Pakistan could very well try more misadventures but the cost for them has skyrocketed as airstrikes in response to terrorism is no longer out of the equation.

Pakistan must also contend with the fact that Indian nuclear-capable aircraft Mirage 2000, which was used for the airstrikes in terrorist camps, were mere minutes away from Islamabad and there was very little they could do to thwart them. Thus, there has been an entire paradigm shift within the past couple of days itself.

The path ahead for Indo-Pak relations is very clear. ‘New India’ will not remain silent if Pakistan continues to nurture terrorists on their soil. Effectively, India has called out Pakistan’s nuclear bluff.

Regardless of what transpires henceforth, the big picture reflects a significant dent in Pakistan’s proxy war efforts. India entered their territory, helped their assets meet their god and suffered no consequences for its actions. ‘New India’ has started its journey on a strong foot.

Congress worker among others found peddling fake video claiming to be that of WC Abhinandan’s wife

OpIndia Staff
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Congress worker among others found peddling fake video claiming to be that of WC Abhinandan’s wife

Yesterday, after our Mig-21 shot down a Pakistani F16, the Indian Wing Commander’s plane got hit by ground fire. Wing Commander Abhinandan was then captured by Pakistanis. After videos of the Indian Air Force pilot were circulated widely by Pakistani media and users, a section of Indian media too picked the videos up which showed him being beaten up mercilessly by Pakistanis. Thereafter, a video where released where Abhinandan was made to say on video, that he was being well treated by the Pakistanis. This was in contravention of the Geneva convention.

Amidst the high tension between the two countries and ongoing political drama over it, there are certain handles who are busy spreading false and unverified information. Yesterday many people from Indian media and some self-proclaimed liberals were found spreading the Pakistani version of arguments after they claimed that Pakistan has shot down two Indian fighter planes.

However, later, the Pakistan government had itself retracted its initial claim of two Indian planes being brought down and had asserted that one pilot is in their custody.

Meanwhile, in India, a chunk of self-proclaimed liberals and ‘peace preachers’ have been trying to play the capture of the Indian Air Force pilot as a dealing card to make the central government stand down and negotiate with terrorist supporter Pakistan.

Today, it was seen that many handles on social media were circulating images and video in which a woman was shown as the WC Abhinandan’s wife. The handles claimed that the pilot’s wife is requesting the BJP and PM Modi to stop using the soldiers for getting ‘electoral benefits’.

via Twitter

One such person Sunil Baisoyia who claims to be a Congress worker in his Twitter bio was seen circulating the fake video.

Via Twitter

Many other people, among whom one Aftab Alam, who claims to be a Delhi University Assistant professor have also shared the fake video in a deliberate attempt to spread misinformation.

Image courtesy: @AgentSaffron via Twitter
Image Courtesy: @AgentSaffron via Twitter

These videos being shared by several people, including workers of political parties is fake. In fact, Wing Commander Abhinandan’s wife has issued no such statement, neither the woman in the video is his wife. Abhinandan’s father had recently come out to issue a statement where he expressed immense pride in his son and the fact that he was serving the nation. He had also requested to leave them alone. It is highly unlikely that Abhinandan’s wife would have released a statement and hence, the videos being spread to blackmail for “peace”, is fake.

Earlier today, sources have reported that the government of India has refused to allow Pakistan to use WC Abhinandan as a bargaining chip and asserted that he should be released immediately under the rules of Geneva convention. India had asserted that Pakistan is trying to use an Indian pilot as a bargaining chip and trying to create a ‘Kandahar’ like situation. As per recent reports, after a tough stand by India, Imran Khan has declared that they will release Wing Commander Abhinandan tomorrow.

Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu absolves Pakistan’s terror crimes, says both sides responsible for tensions

OpIndia Staff
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Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu absolves Pakistan’s terror crimes, says both sides responsible for tensions

After giving terror state of Pakistan a clean chit by claiming it had no role in the Pulwama terrorist attack, senior Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu has yet again attempted to absolve the terror state of Pakistan from its crime of perpetrating terror on Indian soil and blamed both sides for recent tensions across the Line of Control.

Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who often expresses his love towards the terrorist state of Pakistan, has written a two-page letter indicating his surrender to the terrorist state of Pakistan. In his letter titled ‘We have a Choice’, Sidhu has targetted the ‘nationalists’ for seeking the destruction of terrorist camps inside Pakistan. Sidhu goes to the extent of blaming India for targetting terror camps.

“On both sides of the border, tacticians are planning for the worst. They must think the worst of one another because only in thinking the worst do they believe that they can protect and defend. But this belief is a mirage,” Sidhu equated India’s non-military pre-emptive strikes with Pakistan’s attack on India’s military assets.

Navjot Sidhu’s open letter Part-1

Asserting that “a community cannot be blamed for the actions of a few”, he said he stood by the conviction that only dialogue and diplomatic pressure will count for a great deal in seeking a long-term solution to the presence and practice of terror outfits operate within and across the border. By advocating peace talks with a rogue nation, Sidhu deliberately ignores that India has been trying to peacefully negotiate with Pakistan, which has yielded no results.

Alike the liberals of the ‘peace-loving’ industry, Navjot Singh Sidhu has expressed his sympathies towards the captured Indian Airforce pilot and asserted that any further escalation by the Indian government to target terrorist camps will result in similar incidents causing huge irreparable losses to both nations.

Navjot Singh Open letter Part-2

In his letter, Navjot Singh has shockingly brought references of ultra-left activist Gauri Lankesh, Govind Pansare, Kalburgi, deceased student Rohit Vermula to target nationalist forces which had promptly asked for the end of terrorist forces in Pakistan.

“I stand against the fear that killed Gauri Lankesh, Rohith Vermula, Gobind Pansare, MM Kalburgi, Najeeb? ASI Ravinder Singh. It is choice, not choice that will determine our nation’s destiny. We can choose to be patriots. To ask what kind of nationalism this is that turns Indian against Indian,” said Sidhu.

This is not the first time that Sidhu has expressed his love for the terrorist state of Pakistan. In the past, Navjot Singh Sidhu had caused a severe controversy after he posed with dreaded Khalistani terrorist Gopal Singh Chawla during his controversial visit to Pakistan to inaugurate the Kartarpur corridor.

Imran Khan to return Wing Commander Abhinandan to India tomorrow, however, this is no ‘peace gesture’

K Bhattacharjee
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Imran Khan to return Wing Commander Abhinandan to India tomorrow, however, this is no ‘peace gesture’

Pakistan will release Wing Commander Abhinandan tomorrow “as a peace gesture”, their Prime Minister Imran Khan has confirmed.


Earlier, India had made it clear that India is not going to hold any talks or negotiations as far as the safe return of Abhinandan Vartaman is concerned. A source had said, “We are not in a normal situation. can’t let the mood of the nation depend on an individual. We should not allow Pakistan to utilise one individual (Wing Commander Abhinandan) to change the mood of the nation. Do not let Pakistan use this. We must guard against this.

India has also made it clear that for any talks to take place between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan PM Imran Khan, first, Imran Khan needs to take ‘Immediately, credible and verifiable’ action against terrorism that breeds on its soil.

Imran Khan has also been quoted as saying that he ‘tried calling’ Prime Minister Modi last night.


It has to be remembered that Pakistan was bound by international conventions to return Wing Commander Abhinandan to India safe and sound. Therefore, the attempt to portray it as a ‘peace gesture’ rings extremely hollow, especially after India had made it clear that there won’t be negotiations in this regard and expects him to be returned immediately.

Even yesterday, after violating Indian airspace and attempting to attack Indian military installations in an obvious escalation, Imran Khan had proposed talks between the two countries. Even earlier today, Pakistan attempted to intrude upon Indian airspace before being chased away by Indian jets.

Under such circumstances, when Pakistan is engaging in an escalation of matters, the decision to return Wing Commander Abhinandan ought to be seen as Pakistan adhering to international conventions rather than any real ‘peace gesture’.

Over 20 Pakistani fighter jets had tried to attack Indian military bases with laser guided bombs: MEA sources

OpIndia Staff
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Over 20 Pakistani fighter jets had tried to attack Indian military bases with laser guided bombs: MEA sources

Indian Government has made new revelations about the attempt by Pakistan yesterday to attack Indian military bases. Following India’s air strike on terror camps in Pakistan on the early hours of 26th February, Pakistan Air Force fighters had tried to enter the Indian air space, but they are chased back by Indian Air Force MiG-21 jets which were on Combat Air Patrol (CAP) at that time. Indian jets had shot down an F-16 jet of Pakistan, while a MiG-21 had crashed inside Pakistan controlled Kashmir, and the pilot was captured by locals and handed over to Pakistani Army.

According to reports, the Ministry of External Affairs has revealed that more than 20 fighter planes of Pakistan Air Force approached the LoC at 9.45 AM yesterday. The jets had breached the 10 km range of the LoC, and few of them even breached the LoC. The Pakistani jets launched some laser-guided bombs targeted the Indian military bases, but they missed the narrowly.

It proves that the Pakistani claim of not targeting Indian military bases is completely false, government sources said. They added that India Armed Forces are at the highest level of alertness at present, to prevent any more attempt of intrusion by Pakistani forces.

The Pakistani attack was successfully thwarted by Indian Air Force Jets, with MiG-21 jets engaging the Pakistani planes in a dogfight on air. This had marked the first aerial engagement between fighter jets of both the countries after the 1971 war. The situation has remained tense after the incident, with India demanding the immediate return of the captured pilot as per Geneva convention.

Although the Indian military is fully prepared for any more aggression by Pakistan, there is no halt on normal activities in India. But Pakistan presents a completely contrasting view, with its airspace remained completely shut down for two days. All domestic and international flights in Pakistan were suspended, although few international flights out of Pakistan have been allowed to take off today afternoon, there is no flight going into that country. On the other hand, all international flights that fly over Pakistan have been rerouted to fly over the Arabian sea, avoiding Pakistan air space.

In times of war, be one: It is time to reject naysayers and support the decisions being taken

Saket Suryesh
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In times of war, be one: It is time to reject naysayers and support the decisions being taken

As the picture of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, the brave-heart Indian Pilot who chased the new generation F-16 of Pakistan, shooting one down in his ageing MiG-21, and was captured in the process came in, we can see clearly the way the war is being played at the multiple fronts.

The peaceniks who never had any affection for the forty-four soldiers killed by militants raised and supported by the Pakistan Government and Army, are suddenly up in arms, posting the picture of captured IAF Pilot asking for the end of hostilities from our end.

Pakistan has not raised this war at one front. There is also a proxy-war being fought in well-coordinated propaganda ways. The democratization of Indian intellectual space has rendered many intellectuals out of favour and influence. Suddenly we find one or two previously revered journalists tweeting celebrating Pakistan PM for supposed statesmanship and seeking peace, and then there will be hundreds of Twitter handles who till yesterday were posting YouTube videos, with sub-hundred supporters, suddenly quoting them attacking the just outrage of nationalist Indians, calling them belligerent savages.

Let us look at how the Indian PM Narendra Modi, who came from non-elite background fares against the PM of the enemy nation who our out-of-work liberals, once intellectual guardians of the nation, now poor trolls, hail as Greek God, and a great statesman.

If we set aside the killings of Indians since 1993, or Kashmiri Pandit genocide since 1989, even after that, as we moved from one summit meeting to another, with Indian leaderships carrying with them journalists to picturesque locations, we have lost no less than 4000 Indian lives to the terror perpetrated from Pakistan. Even in the most current context, we had 44 Brave Indian Soldiers martyred in Pulwama, which left us not even the bodies of soldiers to mourn. Let us look at the turn of events from then and how our Left-Liberals responded:

  1. Pulwama attack- 44 Indian soldiers martyred. Left-Liberals responded mocking the Government, almost challenging the Indian Government to respond, certain in the established notion of India being a pacifist nation.
  2.  The government took non-military action. The mocking continued. However, as Pakistan businessmen began to suffer, the pressure was built to put the dastardly Pulwama attack behind and get into a dialogue.
  3. As the Government refused to budge, a bogey of Kashmiri under attack was created to put the Government of India on the backfoot. All big names were called into action, tweeting about the fake narrative of Kashmiris under attack without any data to back the claims. An urgent petition was filed in the Supreme Court and resulted in a perfunctory direction to the Government to protect the Kashmiris if at all they were under attack anywhere. This was a deliberate attempt to turn the minds of the masses from real tragedy to imaginary danger.
  4. Pakistan Railways Minister working under the sophisticated Statesman and Pak Army appointed PM of Pakistan, on camera threatened to bomb the Hindu temples in India. All arguments of Pakistan emanates from religious animosity and fanaticism, this is cleverly hidden by our media. There are people who are hard at work within India to convert the religious angle behind Kashmir conflict into a political factor.
  5. India attacks the terrorist training centre in Balakot. India clearly keeps out of Army and civilian locations and hits only terror organization. Pakistan puts Pakistan Airforce in action to attack the Indian Army to avenge the terrorists. The PM which uses the regular army to avenge the irregular terrorists is still hailed by the Indian liberals as Peace-loving statesman.

The clamour to end the war rises in India almost shamelessly coordinating with every noise coming from Pakistan. A narrative is built as if Indian forces were in meditation and suddenly they joined social media, watched the TV channels and outraged marched to the borders. I would like to share with them GK Chesterton

“A true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.”

Indian army walks to the border, not because of public outrage. They walk to the border because they are tired of being sitting ducks to everyday terror attacks with India, killing their fellow countrymen and soldiers. They walk to the border because they want to defend the idea of India which doesn’t fit well with the theocratic, fanatic state next door to us. They know when to walk across and when to sit silently. We have one of the most professional and yet, the most humane and disciplined armies in the world. They are not a gang of mercenaries or security guards of posh societies the elites are most used to. They don’t march at the behest of mass hysteria or outrage. They march at the call of duty. They can not be stopped with silly slogans. They will know when to stop and when to march again. In the meantime, stop making a hero out of the man who presided over the death of 44 Soldiers recently, and who would not hesitate a regular national army to protect the terrorists on their soil. Today the peace-loving leader of Pakistan has unilaterally stopped the train connecting India and Pakistan. We all can see. The messenger has no clothes.

Let us reject the naysayers and support the decisions being taken by those who have a better view of the things. Let us continue to go about our lives, with a little more caution, a little more camaraderie, a little more honesty and a little more commitment to our motherland. While Pakistan Army knows that it is not fighting on behalf of its people, it is fighting rather on behalf of its militants who kill their own in their free time, like in Peshawar school killings; Indian Army knows it is fighting on behalf of men who are honest and equally committed to the idea of a progressive nation. There is not much to guess who will win this war. Each of our soldiers is the embodiment of an idea of India, an idea of democracy, an Idea of progressiveness. It is an idea which cannot be crushed under the boots of rogue fanatics.

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