The Islamabad High Court has dismissed a petition to stop the release of IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. The petition had stated that the IAF pilot had violated the airspace of Pakistan to bomb the country and, therefore, he committed crime against Pakistan and should face trial. The Indian Air Force will receive the Wing Commander at the Wagah border this afternoon, two days after he was captured while engaging in an aerial dogfight with Pakistani F-16s. The Wing Commander’s family reached Delhi from Chennai last evening and is now on their way to Amritsar. The Border Security Force, which is expected to stand guard during the pilot’s arrival, has not been told the “exact time and sequence” of the release.
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However, Pakistani PM Imran Khan’s announcement on Thursday to release the IAF pilot came as a surprise amid escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed countries after an intense aerial confrontation. Khan in his parliament speech called the IAF pilot’s release “a gesture of peace.” hours after India sought the pilot’s release and dismissed talks on the issue. It is being reported that Abhinandan Varthaman had shot down the Pakistani Air Force’s F-16 fighter jet by firing an R-73 air-to-air missile before his MiG-21 Bison was hit during a fierce dogfight on Wednesday.
As India awaits Wing Commander Abhinandan's arrival, a report suggests no visitors will be allowed to attend the Beating Retreat ceremony at the Wagah border on Friday. Security has been beefed up at Wagah. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader and former foreign minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif justifies Pulwama terror attack, calling it an act of revenge by an oppressed population. At least 40 CRPF jawans were killed in the dastradly terror attack in Pulwama district of Jammu and kashmir on February 14.
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