India on Wednesday asked Pakistan to ensure immediate release and safe return of the Indian Air Force pilot who was missing in action after Pakistan shot down a MIG 21 jet.
According to Hindustan Times, India also objected to Islamabad putting out widely circulated photographs and videos of the pilot. A statement by the Indian Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the video was “in violation” of all norms of International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Convention.
India said it “strongly objects 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.”
The Indian ministry has summoned Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah to lodge a strong protest over actions of Pakistan Air Force.
A video of the captured Indian pilot was released hours after the Pakistan Air Force shot down two Indian jets within the Pakistani airspace and arrested two pilots, one in injured condition.
In the video, the captured pilot can be heard saying: “My name is Wing Commander Abhinandan. My service number is 27981. I am a flying pilot. My religion is Hindu.”
The MEA earlier said a MiG 21 was shot down and its pilot is missing.
Addressing a press conference, a spokesperson for the Indian MEA said, “We unfortunately lost one MiG-21 in this engagement and an Indian pilot is missing in action. Pakistan claims the pilot is in their custody, however, we are ascertaining the facts.”
“In the aerial engagement, a Pakistan fighter aircraft was shot down by a MiG-21 Bison. The aircraft was seen by ground forces falling on the Pakistan side,” he added.
