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'''Abhinandan Varthaman''' [[Vir Chakra|VrC]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gallantry Awards {{!}} Ministry of Defence, Government of India|url=https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/awardee/4888|access-date=2021-11-23|website=www.gallantryawards.gov.in}}</ref><!-- His official naming order is Varthaman Abhinandan, as per official sources of government
'''Abhinandan Varthaman''' [[Vir Chakra|VrC]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gallantry Awards {{!}} Ministry of Defence, Government of India|url=https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/awardee/4888|access-date=2021-11-23|website=www.gallantryawards.gov.in}}</ref><!-- His official naming order is Varthaman Abhinandan, as per official sources of government
--> (born 21 June 1983) is an [[Indian Air Force]] [[fighter pilot]] who, during the [[2019 India–Pakistan standoff]], was held captive in Pakistan for 60 hours after his aircraft was shot down in an aerial [[dogfight]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1466347|title=2 Indian aircraft violating Pakistani airspace shot down; 2 pilots arrested|last=|date=28 February 2019|website=DAWN.COM|access-date=28 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190227094831/https://www.dawn.com/news/1466347|archive-date=27 February 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Saved From Pakistani Mob, Downed Indian Pilot Becomes Face of Kashmir Crisis |url=https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2019/02/27/world/asia/27reuters-india-kashmir-pilot-socialmedia.html |work=The New York Times|date=27 February 2019 |access-date=1 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302024524/https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2019/02/27/world/asia/27reuters-india-kashmir-pilot-socialmedia.html |archive-date=2 March 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=1 March 2019|title=Pakistan hands back captured Indian pilot|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47412884|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302131948/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47412884|archive-date=2 March 2019|access-date=4 March 2019|website=BBC}}</ref> He was awarded with [[Vir Chakra]] by the Indian government for allegedly downing a PAF [[F-16]] with his [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21|MiG-21 Bison]], though his claim has been rejected by Pakistan.<ref name="Peri-Hindu">{{Cite news|last=Peri|first=Dinakar|date=14 August 2019|title=Wing Commander Abhinandan to be awarded Vir Chakra|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/wg-cdr-abhinandan-varthaman-to-be-conferred-vir-chakra/article29090657.ece|access-date=14 August 2019|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name="Seligman">{{Cite web|last=Seligman|first=Lara|title=Did India Shoot Down a Pakistani Jet? U.S. Count Says No.|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/04/04/did-india-shoot-down-a-pakistani-jet-u-s-count-says-no/|access-date=2021-01-17|website=Foreign Policy|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="WP">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/04/17/did-india-shoot-down-pakistani-f-back-february-this-just-became-big-deal/|title=Did India shoot down a Pakistani F-16 in February? This just became a big deal|work=Washington Post|date=17 April 2019|accessdate=18 September 2021|first=Sameer|last=Lalwani|first2=Emily|last2=Tallo|quote=The controversy flared up when a Foreign Policy article stated that the Pentagon had accounted for all of Pakistan’s F-16 jets... The IAF responded last week by releasing “irrefutable” evidence — including electronic signatures and radio transcripts — that Pakistan lost a fighter jet during the February aerial combat. A number of U.S. and Indian defense analysts called the evidence circumstantial... The Pentagon, like the State Department, has yet to issue a public statement on the F-16 count, but there have been no counter-leaks contradicting the Foreign Policy report.}}</ref>
--> (born 21 June 1983) is an [[Indian Air Force]] [[fighter pilot]] who, during the [[2019 India–Pakistan standoff]], was held captive in Pakistan for 60 hours after his aircraft was shot down in an aerial [[dogfight]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1466347|title=2 Indian aircraft violating Pakistani airspace shot down; 2 pilots arrested|last=|date=28 February 2019|website=DAWN.COM|access-date=28 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190227094831/https://www.dawn.com/news/1466347|archive-date=27 February 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Saved From Pakistani Mob, Downed Indian Pilot Becomes Face of Kashmir Crisis |url=https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2019/02/27/world/asia/27reuters-india-kashmir-pilot-socialmedia.html |work=The New York Times|date=27 February 2019 |access-date=1 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302024524/https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2019/02/27/world/asia/27reuters-india-kashmir-pilot-socialmedia.html |archive-date=2 March 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=1 March 2019|title=Pakistan hands back captured Indian pilot|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47412884|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302131948/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47412884|archive-date=2 March 2019|access-date=4 March 2019|website=BBC}}</ref> He was awarded with [[Vir Chakra]] by the Indian government for allegedly downing a PAF [[F-16]] with his [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21|MiG-21 Bison]], though his claim has been rejected by Pakistan and neutral analysis.<ref name=markey-asia-policy-balakot>{{citation|last=Markey|first=Daniel|title=The Strategic Implications of India's Illiberalism and Democratic Erosion|journal=Asia Policy|volume=17|issue=1|pages=77&ndash;105|year=2022|publisher=National Bureau of Asian Research|doi=10.1353/asp.2022.0010|quote=The Modi government’s public mischaracterizations of the February 2019 Balakot airstrike and subsequent air skirmishes, including subsequently debunked claims of a destroyed terrorist camp inside Pakistan and India’s downing of a Pakistani F-16 jet, have already raised questions in the United States about New Delhi’s credibility and communications strategy in the midst of an exceptionally dangerous regional context.}}</ref><ref name="Peri-Hindu">{{Cite news|last=Peri|first=Dinakar|date=14 August 2019|title=Wing Commander Abhinandan to be awarded Vir Chakra|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/wg-cdr-abhinandan-varthaman-to-be-conferred-vir-chakra/article29090657.ece|access-date=14 August 2019|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name="Seligman">{{Cite web|last=Seligman|first=Lara|title=Did India Shoot Down a Pakistani Jet? U.S. Count Says No.|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/04/04/did-india-shoot-down-a-pakistani-jet-u-s-count-says-no/|access-date=2021-01-17|website=Foreign Policy|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="WP">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/04/17/did-india-shoot-down-pakistani-f-back-february-this-just-became-big-deal/|title=Did India shoot down a Pakistani F-16 in February? This just became a big deal|work=Washington Post|date=17 April 2019|accessdate=18 September 2021|first=Sameer|last=Lalwani|first2=Emily|last2=Tallo|quote=The controversy flared up when a Foreign Policy article stated that the Pentagon had accounted for all of Pakistan’s F-16 jets... The IAF responded last week by releasing “irrefutable” evidence — including electronic signatures and radio transcripts — that Pakistan lost a fighter jet during the February aerial combat. A number of U.S. and Indian defense analysts called the evidence circumstantial... The Pentagon, like the State Department, has yet to issue a public statement on the F-16 count, but there have been no counter-leaks contradicting the Foreign Policy report.}}</ref>


Pakistan released videos and images showing Varthaman being rescued from a violent mob of villagers by its soldiers, receiving first aid and being questioned while blindfolded. Pakistan decided on 28 February 2019 to release him. He returned to India at [[Wagah]] on 1 March 2019. His distinctive style of moustache and his sentence "the tea was fantastic" during the interrogation also gained massive popularity in the media following the incident.
Pakistan released videos and images showing Varthaman being rescued from a violent mob of villagers by its soldiers, receiving first aid and being questioned while blindfolded. Pakistan decided on 28 February 2019 to release him. He returned to India at [[Wagah]] on 1 March 2019. His distinctive style of moustache and his sentence "the tea was fantastic" during the interrogation also gained massive popularity in the media following the incident.

Revision as of 12:07, 20 May 2022

Group Captain

Abhinandan Varthaman
Born (1983-06-21) June 21, 1983 (age 41)
Tamil Nadu, India
Allegiance India
Service / branch Indian Air Force
Years of service2004-present
Rank Group Captain
Service number27981[1]
Battles / wars2019 India–Pakistan standoff
Awards Vir Chakra[2]
A MiG-21 Bison of the Indian Air Force.

Abhinandan Varthaman VrC[3] (born 21 June 1983) is an Indian Air Force fighter pilot who, during the 2019 India–Pakistan standoff, was held captive in Pakistan for 60 hours after his aircraft was shot down in an aerial dogfight.[4][5][6] He was awarded with Vir Chakra by the Indian government for allegedly downing a PAF F-16 with his MiG-21 Bison, though his claim has been rejected by Pakistan and neutral analysis.[7][8][9][10]

Pakistan released videos and images showing Varthaman being rescued from a violent mob of villagers by its soldiers, receiving first aid and being questioned while blindfolded. Pakistan decided on 28 February 2019 to release him. He returned to India at Wagah on 1 March 2019. His distinctive style of moustache and his sentence "the tea was fantastic" during the interrogation also gained massive popularity in the media following the incident.

He was promoted to the rank of Group captain from the rank of Wing Commander on November, 2021.[11]

Career and personal life

Abhinandan Varthaman was born on 21 June 1983 in Tamil Jain[12] Family.[13] Varthaman's family is from Thirupanamoor, a village about 19 km (12 miles) from Kanchipuram.[14] His father is a retired Indian Air Force (IAF) Air Marshal (OF-8) and his mother is a doctor.[15][16]

Varthaman was educated at Sainik School, Amaravathinagar.[15] He graduated from the National Defence Academy and was commissioned into the combat (fighter) stream of the IAF as a flying officer on 19 June 2004.[17] He was trained at the IAF centres in Bathinda and Halwara, promoted to flight lieutenant on 19 June 2006,[18] and to squadron leader on 8 July 2010.[19] Varthaman was a Su-30 MKI fighter pilot before being assigned to the MiG-21 Bison squadron.[20] He was promoted to wing commander on 19 June 2017.[21]

Varthaman is married to a retired Squadron Leader and lives in Chennai. They have two children.[20][22]

Capture

On 27 February 2019, Varthaman was flying a MiG-21 as a part of a sortie that was scrambled to intercept an intrusion into Indian-administered Kashmir by Pakistani aircraft. In the dogfight that ensued, he crossed into Pakistani airspace and his aircraft was struck by a missile. Varthaman ejected and safely descended into the village of Horran in Pakistani-administered Kashmir, approximately 7 km (4.3 miles) from the Line of Control.[23][24]

Local villagers said Varthaman could be identified as an Indian pilot by the Indian flag on his parachute.[23] Upon landing, Varthaman asked the villagers whether he was in India, to which a young boy lied by saying "Yes."[23] Varthaman reportedly raised pro-India slogans, to which the locals responded with pro-Pakistan slogans. Varthaman began firing warning shots. The villagers captured and manhandled Varthaman before he was rescued by the Pakistan Army.[25][24]

Later that day, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs confirmed an Indian pilot was missing in action after a MiG-21 Bison fighter aircraft was lost while engaging with Pakistani jets.[26][23][27] A statement released by the IAF also said before the crash, Varthaman had shot down a PAF Lockheed Martin F-16.[28][29][30] At a media briefing on 2 March 2019, nearly two days after the aerial engagement between PAF and IAF, the IAF displayed the parts of AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, which could be used only by the PAF's F-16. The IAF also said they had identified the electronic signatures of the aircraft and confirmed that F-16 were used during the skirmish. As claimed by Indian media, according to an agreement between the U.S. and Pakistan, Pakistan is only allowed to use the F-16 against terrorists.[31] However, Foreign Policy magazine quoting an anonymous U.S. official stated that the agreement did not involve any such terms "limiting the use of the F-16s."[9] Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations Director General refuted the later claims and said F-16s had not been used in the incident.[32] The US-based Foreign Policy magazine, quoting two anonymous U.S. Defense Department officials, reported in April 2019 that an audit didn't find any Pakistani F-16s missing, and that all jets were accounted for.[33][10] U.S. officials also refused to confirm whether Pakistan had used F-16s in the conflict, citing it as a bilateral matter between the U.S. and Pakistan.[34]

Videos

Videos and images released by Pakistani authorities showed Varthaman being rescued from a violent mob by Pakistani soldiers[35] and being interrogated while tied and blindfolded with a bloody face.[25][35] Other videos showed him receiving first aid and being further interrogated over tea.[36][25][35] The media received a mixed reception; some commentators criticised the reports as a "vulgar display" while others praised the intervention of the Pakistani soldiers when Varthaman was in the hands of the mob and was being beaten.[35] The release of the videos was suspected of being a violation of the Geneva Conventions and were deleted by Pakistani authorities after they went viral.[37] Experts gave different opinions about the validity of the Geneva Convention to this case.[38]

Repatriation and subsequent developments

Wagah border

On 28 February 2019, Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan announced at a joint sitting of the Parliament of Pakistan, that the government had decided to release Varthaman the next day as a "gesture of peace".[39] Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, said his government announced the release of the IAF Wing Commander out of a desire for peace and that there was no compulsion or pressure on Pakistan, as was implied by the Indian media.[40] However, The New York Times reported that several outside countries including United States and China had been urging Pakistan to release the Indian pilot to de-escalate the crisis.[25]

However, in October 2020, a senior opposition leader who was Speaker of the National Assembly during the PML-N government in Pakistan, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq had claimed in the National Assembly that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was released after Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told a meeting of Pakistan's top leaders that India would attack Pakistan if Varthaman weren't released.[41][42][43]

Varthaman crossed the India-Pakistan border at Wagah on 1 March 2019.[44][45][46] At a political rally, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Varthaman's release, saying the nation was proud of him.[47] Hours before his releiase, a new video showing Varthaman praising the Pakistani army while criticizing the Indian media was released to the Pakistani media. IAF later said it had been filmed while Varthaman was under duress.[48][49][50][51] A medical check-up upon his return located multiple bruises and a fractured rib but no 'significant injuries'.[52] Varthaman said the Pakistani authorities did not physically torture him but subjected him to considerable "mental harassment". Pakistan said he was treated in accordance with the Geneva Conventions.[53]

Akhil Bharatiya Digambar Jain Mahasamiti chairperson Manidra Jain announced Varthaman would be awarded the Bhagwan Mahavir Ahimsa Puraskar on 17 April 2019, the date of Mahavir Jayanti.[54] In August that same year, he was presented with the Vir Chakra gallantry award.[8]

After the government's decision to release Varthaman was announced, a petition was filed before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking an injunction to stop the process but the court dismissed it on the same day. The petition argued Varthaman must be released only after the cessation of active hostilities, as per the Geneva Conventions, since the Indian pilot “was arrested when he was on a mission against Pakistan.” The petition was rejected by the Islamabad High Court, citing the consensus of the parliamentarians and that "When all the parliamentarians agree at a point...[a] debate over it is unnecessary". In addition the IHC Chief Justice Minallah also stated that the courts do not have the power to intervene in foreign affairs, according to a Supreme Court verdict in 2014.[55]

Aftermath

The Tea is Fantastic (Internet Meme)

After Abhinandhan was captured by Pakistani forces, a video of him taken by a soldier went viral in which he was seen being interrogated while drinking Pakistani tea. The interrogator asked him different questions about his health and how he was treated to which he acknowledged the human treatment by the Pakistani Military. The interrogator then asks if he was enjoying his tea to which Abhinandhan replied "The tea is Fantastic". This statement of Varthaman went viral and turned into a Meme in the Pakistani Online community.[56][57]

Abhinandhan Moustache

The Abhinandan Cut, popular in India

Varthaman's style of moustache has become popular in India and is widely called the "Abhinandan cut".[58][59][60][61]

The style is similar to a combination of old gunslinger moustache and mutton chops worn by Franz Joseph I of Austria.[60] It resembles the moustache worn by actor Suriya in the Singam film series and Rajinikanth's moustache in Petta (2019).[62]

Indian actor Ranveer Singh's barber, Darshan Yewalekar, has quoted saying that "the beard sported by the IAF pilot will soon be called India's very own Varthaman style."[63] A number of companies used the moustache in their advertisements. Dairy company Amul produced a video showing a young girl wearing an Abhinandan-shaped milk moustache.[64][65] The advertisement was posted on Twitter and received more than 170,000 views within 24 hours.[66][67] Pizza Hut also posted a tweet showing the Abhinandan moustache on 3 March 2019.[68][69]

Awards and Decorations

Vir Chakra Wound Medal
General Service Medal Samanya Seva Medal Special Service Medal
Siachen Glacier Medal Sainya Seva Medal High Altitude Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal

See also

References

  1. ^ "#Abhinandan विंग कमांडर अभिनंदन के बारे में अब तक ये पता है". BBC. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Abhinandan to get Vir Chakra on Independence Day: Facts about India's 3rd highest gallantry award". India Today. 14 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Gallantry Awards | Ministry of Defence, Government of India". www.gallantryawards.gov.in. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  4. ^ "2 Indian aircraft violating Pakistani airspace shot down; 2 pilots arrested". DAWN.COM. 28 February 2019. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Saved From Pakistani Mob, Downed Indian Pilot Becomes Face of Kashmir Crisis". The New York Times. 27 February 2019. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  6. ^ "Pakistan hands back captured Indian pilot". BBC. 1 March 2019. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  7. ^ Markey, Daniel (2022), "The Strategic Implications of India's Illiberalism and Democratic Erosion", Asia Policy, 17 (1), National Bureau of Asian Research: 77–105, doi:10.1353/asp.2022.0010, The Modi government's public mischaracterizations of the February 2019 Balakot airstrike and subsequent air skirmishes, including subsequently debunked claims of a destroyed terrorist camp inside Pakistan and India's downing of a Pakistani F-16 jet, have already raised questions in the United States about New Delhi's credibility and communications strategy in the midst of an exceptionally dangerous regional context.
  8. ^ a b Peri, Dinakar (14 August 2019). "Wing Commander Abhinandan to be awarded Vir Chakra". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  9. ^ a b Seligman, Lara. "Did India Shoot Down a Pakistani Jet? U.S. Count Says No". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  10. ^ a b Lalwani, Sameer; Tallo, Emily (17 April 2019). "Did India shoot down a Pakistani F-16 in February? This just became a big deal". Washington Post. Retrieved 18 September 2021. The controversy flared up when a Foreign Policy article stated that the Pentagon had accounted for all of Pakistan's F-16 jets... The IAF responded last week by releasing "irrefutable" evidence — including electronic signatures and radio transcripts — that Pakistan lost a fighter jet during the February aerial combat. A number of U.S. and Indian defense analysts called the evidence circumstantial... The Pentagon, like the State Department, has yet to issue a public statement on the F-16 count, but there have been no counter-leaks contradicting the Foreign Policy report.
  11. ^ "Indian Air Force promotes Balakot air strike hero Abhinandan Varthaman to Group Captain rank". The Economic Times. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  12. ^ M, Kalyanaraman (5 April 2019). "Abhinandan's folk: Jains who are Tamils but don't eat onions". The Federal. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  13. ^ M, Kalyanaraman (5 April 2019). "Abhinandan's folk: Jains who are Tamils but don't eat onions". The Federal. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  14. ^ "Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman trained at IAF, Tambaram". Deccan Chronicle. 28 February 2019. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  15. ^ a b "Pilot Abhinandan Profile, Family, All you need to know about IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman". timesnownews.com. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  16. ^ "Cheers, Claps For Pilot Abhinandan Varthaman's Parents on Flight To Delhi". NDTV. 1 March 2019. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  17. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Air Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 30 September 2006. p. 1371.
  18. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Air Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 28 June 2008. p. 796.
  19. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Air Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 4 February 2012. p. 119.
  20. ^ a b "Profile of a true HERO – All you need to know about Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman". Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  21. ^ "Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Air Branch)" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 8 February 2020. p. 527.
  22. ^ "Abhinandan Varthaman carries a legacy of courage, grace, valour". India Today. 1 March 2019. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  23. ^ a b c d Khan, M. Ilyas (1 March 2019). "Fighter pilot 'opened fire' before capture". Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019 – via www.bbc.com.
  24. ^ a b "Abhinandan raised slogans, tried to destroy documents just before being captured in Pak (BBC Hindi)". 28 February 2019 – via YouTube.
  25. ^ a b c d Gettleman, Jeffrey; Raj, Suhasini (1 March 2019). "Pakistan Frees Indian Pilot Who Was Beaten by a Mob and Then Served Tea". Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019 – via NYTimes.com.
  26. ^ "India-Pak Tensions LIVE: IAF Wing Commander Missing After MiG-21 Crash, Pakistan Claims He is in Their Custody, Says Govt". News18. 27 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  27. ^ Thomson Reuters (27 February 2019). "Saved from a Pakistani mob, a downed Indian pilot becomes the face of the Kashmir crises". cbc.ca. CBC News. Retrieved 2 March 2019. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  28. ^ "'Abhinandan Varthaman is first IAF pilot to down an F-16': Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy". Hindustan Times. 3 March 2019. Archived from the original on 3 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  29. ^ "Enough evidence to show Pak used F16s, 'disinformation' by Pak: Indian Air Force". News Laundry. 1 March 2019. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  30. ^ Pubby, Manu (28 February 2019). "Abhinandan Varthaman's MiG21 locked in Pakistan's F16". Economic Times. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  31. ^ Press Trust of India (9 March 2019). "Abhinandan-piloted MiG-21 Bison shot down Pak F-16; have electronic evidence: MEA". India Today. Archived from the original on 11 March 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  32. ^ "Pakistan army refutes Indian claims of downing F-16; says Pakistan doesn't want war". 27 February 2019. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  33. ^ Seligman, Lara. "Did India Shoot Down a Pakistani Jet? U.S. Count Says No". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  34. ^ "US Refuses To Confirm If Indian Mig 21 Shot-Down Pakistani F-16 Fighter Jet". EurAsian Times. 29 April 2019. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  35. ^ a b c d Gettleman, Jeffrey; Raj, Suhasini (1 March 2019). "Pakistan Frees Indian Pilot Who Was Beaten by a Mob and Then Served Tea". Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019 – via NYTimes.com.
  36. ^ Ashwani, S. (4 March 2019). "अभिनंदन के पीओके में गिरने के तुरंत बाद का नया वीडियो, इसमें दिख रहा है कि विंग कमांडर को पकड़ने के बाद कितनी दहशत में थे पाक सैनिक, जल्दबाजी में जमीन पर ही लेटा कर करने लगे खून साफ". Dainik Bhaskar.
  37. ^ Casiano, Louis (27 February 2019). "Pakistan may have violated Geneva Conventions after posting video of captured pilot". Fox News. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  38. ^ "Geneva Convention: Experts differ over immunity to Indian pilot". The News International. 28 February 2019. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  39. ^ "PM announces release of Indian pilot Abhinandan as 'peace gesture'". Ary News. 28 February 2019. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  40. ^ "No compulsion or pressure to release Abhinandan, did it for peace: Qureshi". DAWN. 2 March 2019. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  41. ^ "Pakistan released IAF pilot Wg. Cdr. Abhinandan after India's attack threat, claims PMLN leader". The Hindu. PTI. 29 October 2020. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 16 May 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  42. ^ "I stand by my stance, have never made irresponsible statements: Ayaz Sadiq". Dawn.com. 31 October 2020. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  43. ^ "Pak Opposition MP Says Abhinandan Was Released As Army Chief Feared India's Attack". The Wire. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  44. ^ "Captured IAF pilot handed over to officials in Delhi". DAWN.COM. 1 March 2019. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  45. ^ "Abhinandan: Captured Indian pilot handed back by Pakistan". BBC News. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  46. ^ Gettleman, Jeffrey; Raj, Suhasini (1 March 2019). "Pakistan Frees Indian Pilot Who Was Beaten by a Mob and Then Served Tea". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  47. ^ "PM Modi welcomes IAF pilot Abhinandan, says 'nation proud of your exemplary courage'". The Times of India. 1 March 2019. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  48. ^ "Subjected to mental harassment by ISI, says IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  49. ^ "Abhinandan's video was recorded in captivity under duress: IAF". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 11 March 2019.
  50. ^ "Pakistan's propaganda video of Indian pilot Abhinandan had at least 16 cuts". Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  51. ^ "Abhinandan Varthaman Says He Was Mentally Harassed in Pakistan: Report". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  52. ^ Gurung, Shaurya Karanbir (2 March 2019). "Abhinandan is back but with a rib fracture and some bruises". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 3 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  53. ^ "Abhinandan Varthaman Says He Was Mentally Harassed in Pakistan: Report". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  54. ^ "IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman to be awarded with Bhagwan Mahavir Ahimsa Puraskar". Hindustan Times. 3 March 2019. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
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  56. ^ https://www.dawn.com/news/1466413
  57. ^ https://tribune.com.pk/story/2345503/three-years-on-pakistani-twitter-celebrates-a-happy-fantastic-tea-day
  58. ^ Suri, Manveena. "Indian pilot returns home a hero and sparks mustache trend". CNN. Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
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