Shortly after releasing a propaganda video featuring IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman with multiple cuts, Pakistan took down the video from its official Twitter handle. The video was criticized for being in bad taste and was later removed from Pakistan government’s official Twitter handle after officials realized that it was in violation of the Geneva Convention.
In the video, Abhinandan talks about his entry into the Pakistani airspace in search of a target after which he is shot down. He also speaks at length about his overall experience while being in Pakistani custody.
The handing over of pilot Abhinandan Varthaman to India at Wagah was delayed on Friday as he was asked to record a statement on camera by Pakistani authorities before he was allowed to cross the border, according to sources.
The video also had several jump cuts indicating that it had been edited heavily, apparently to fit Pakistani propaganda.
At 8.30 pm (local) time, the Pakistan government released the pilot’s video message to the local media in which he said as to how he was captured.
Brainless handle @pid_gov of a brainless country who doesn't know how to deal with the situations, now deleted that edited video of #Abhinandan sir which they uploaded approx an hour back.
— #GullyBoy (@Ranveerianworld) March 1, 2019
Tho i recorded it but the audio isn't clear 😔 pic.twitter.com/GKVXCWQ1Q9
“Recording of his video message caused delay in his handing over,” a source said.
In the video message, Varthaman said he entered Pakistan’s space to “find a target” but his aircraft was shot down.
Look the hypocrisy in propaganda! Pakistan Govt official handle tweeted the video of Wing Commander Abhinandan who was tortured and harassed and made to say this on gun point. Minutes later realising that it violates Geneva Convention and all norms they deleted the tweet. pic.twitter.com/7RifkhcfoZ
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) March 1, 2019
“I was in search of the target when your (Pakistan) Air Force shot me down. I had to eject the plane which had sustained damage. As soon as I ejected and when my parachute opened and I fell down, I had a pistol with me.”
“There were many people. I had only one way to save myself: I dropped my pistol and tried to run.
“People chased me, their emotions were running high. Just then, two Pakistani Army officials came and saved me. Pakistani Army captains saved from the people and did not let any harm come to me. They took me to their unit where I was administered first aid and then I was taken to the hospital where I further underwent a medical exam and received more aid,” he said.
“The Army personnel saved me from the mob. The Pakistani Army is very professional and I am impressed by it,” he said, while criticising the Indian media.
Dear inhuman pile of dung, try and pick on someone your own size. And understand the difference between a soldier’s duty, and political decisions the soldier hasn’t made. This tweet demonstrates the three grey cells between your ears to have been fried by coke. https://t.co/mrpT5UERf0
— Gul Bukhari (@GulBukhari) February 28, 2019
India has maintained that Varthaman’s plane was downed when IAF planes foiled an attempt by the Pakistan Air Force to target Indian military installations in Jammu and Kashmir on February 27, a day after New Delhi had conducted counter-terror operations in Pakistan’s Balakot. He bailed out of the aircraft but drifted to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir where he was detained by the Pakistan Army.
Although there has been no official word as to what time he was brought to the Wagah border on Friday, but the sources say he reached Lahore after 4 pm.
The Pakistani media reported that “his papers were being checked at the Wagah immigration” that was why he was not being “immediately” handed over to the Indian authorities.
Varthaman was handed over at around 9.20 pm (IST).
Pakistan
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) March 1, 2019
👉Attacked #Abhinandan & made him bleed
👉Tortured him to get secret info which he refused to share
👉Tortured & forced him to make a Fake Propaganda video having 20+ Cuts
All these are clear violations of Geneva Conventions.RT If You Want To #DeclarePakTerroristState