J&K parties welcome Pak decision to free IAF pilot

SRINAGAR: Mainstream political parties of Jammu and Kashmir and seperatists on Thursday welcomed Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s announcement that the Indian Air Force pilot, who was captured by the neighbouring country after his MIG 21 went down, would be released on Friday.

The 35-year-old Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was captured by Pakistan on Wednesday after his MIG was shot down and it fell in Pakistanoccupied Kashmir during a dogfight.

Peoples Democratic Party president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti termed the announcement as a “great gesture” and said that it should not be seen in isolation.

“It also comes at a time when Pakistan could’ve chosen to further escalate an already tensed situation. I see it as a mark of reconciliation. Our leadership should reciprocate,” Mehbooba Mufti wrote on her Twitter handle. National Conference vice president and former CM Omar Abdullah said he was glad over the development.

“Very glad to know that #Wingcommandarabhinandan will be heading home. I’ll wait for him to be back on Indian soil before I welcome him back but I’m greatly relieved that PM @Imrankhanpti has announced the imminent release of our pilot” Omar tweeted.

Welcoming the decision, bureaucrat-turned-politician Shah Faisel said; “And with this one gesture @Imrankhanpti has proven himself to be a statesman”. Peoples Conference chief spokesman and Srinagar mayor Junaid Azim Mattu said the decision would be harbinger of peace and stability in the region. “There should be unequivocal condemnation of violence,” he said.

“This is a message that Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan stands for peace and settling all the issues pending between the two countries by way of dialogue,’’ said Sheikh Ashiq, president, J&K Chamber of Commerce.

Hailing the decision, Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said, “Welcome decision by Pak PM @Imrankhanpti to release the captive Indian pilot as a peace gesture. Hope better sense prevails the war clouds scatter and the #Kashmir dispute moves towards a peaceful resolution,’’ he tweeted.

Head of department and dean, school of legal studies at central university, Sheikh Showkat Hussain, also expressed happiness over the decision.

“Ideally Prisoner of wars should be immediately repatriated. Although Pakistan followed it, India had taken one year to release Pows in 1971. By this Pakistan has depicted that they have the capability and also got a higher pedestal in physical and perception war. They took a moral high ground in this case,” he said.

It comes at a time when Pak could’ve chosen to further escalate an already tensed situation. I see it as a mark of reconciliation.

Our leadership should reciprocate

MEHBOOBA MUFTI, former J&K CM, on Twitter