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Published 16:21 IST, February 28th 2019

MASSIVE: Strong possibility of IAF's Wing Commander Abhinandan's release by Pakistan, after unprecedented pressure mounted by India

With India making it abundantly clear to Pakistan that it expects its brave captured IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan to be returned immediately and safely, and that there will be no deal in this regard as there had been in the case of the IC-814 hijacking two decades ago, relentless and unprecedented pressure has been built on Pak PM Imran Khan

Reported by: Ankit Prasad
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MASSIVE: Strong possibility of IAF's Wing Commander Abhinandan's release by Pakistan, after unprecedented pressure mounted by India
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With India making it abundantly clear to Pakistan that it expects its brave captured IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan to be returned immediately and safely, and that there will be no deal in this regard as there had been in the case of the IC-814 hijacking two decades ago, relentless and unprecedented pressure has been built on Pak PM Imran Khan and his government to comply, leaving them with no escape route and culminating in a strong possibility that India's hero will be released, top sources have said to Republic TV.

Putting Pakistan on the ropes, India had on Wednesday summoned Pakistan's acting envoy and issued him an demarche ultimatum over the vulgar videos released by Pakistan of India's pilot and the treatment he had been subjected to which, among other things, is violative of the Geneva convention.

The demarche had said:

"India also strongly objected to Pakistan’s vulgar display of an 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."

Pakistan has closed its airspace and also issued a state of Emergency in its largest city Karachi following its failed attempt at intruding into India's airspace on Wednesday morning, where its F-16 squadron's design to attack India's military installations was repulsed and its fighter jets made to scarper by the Indian Air Force. One of Pakistan's US-made F-16s were shot down by Indian fighters. It was in this operation that Wing Commander Abhinandan's MIG-21 Bison went down.

Top Ministry of External Affairs sources confirmed to Republic TV on Thursday that India would not strike any deal with Pakistan, disregarding Pakistan issuance of statement after statement begging India to come to the negotiating table, essentially leaving the writing on the wall. 

Updated 16:36 IST, February 28th 2019