How India pressed Pakistan into releasing IAF pilot Abhinandan

It has been over two years since Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was captured by Pakistan after the Balakot air strikes. And it was after Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) to apply pressure on Islamabad that the air force pilot was released. 

According to a report in the Hindustan Times, then-RAW chief Anil Dhasmana spoke to his Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) counterpart Lt General Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah, demanding for Abhinandan’s return. 

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Wing Commander Abhinandan’s MiG-21 Bison was shot down after a skirmish with a group of Pakistani fighters over the Line of Control in the Rajouri-Mendhar sector on February 27. He shot down four fourth-generation F16 jets before he ejecting from his ageing fighter, following which he was held by villagers in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir before being handed over to the military. 

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced in the National Assembly on February 28 that as “a gesture of peace”, Abhinandan will be released. 

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The pilot returned to India from the Wagah-Attari border post on March 1. Prior to his release, the Pakistan army released a number of images and videos, in one of which, Abhinandan was bloodied and blindfolded. 

That conversation between the RAW and IAF chiefs came after those images and videos were released.

According to sources, PM Modi saw those images and told the RAW chief to tell Pakistan that India will stop at nothing if the pilot was harmed and demand for his immediate release. The prime minister’s message was “Our weapon arsenal is not for Diwali”.

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The RAW chief conveyed the message to his ISI counterpart, and he reportedly did not mince words, telling him that Islamabad will have to face the consequences if the pilot is harmed. His message was so blunt that the ISI chief was taken by surprise. 

India also prepared the Prithvi ballistic missile batteries in the Rajasthan sector to show it was ready to take action, which alarmed Washington as well. 

The first confirmation of Abhinandan’s release came before PM Khan’s announcement in the National Assembly, with ISI’s Lt Gen Shah sending a secret letter to his RAW counterpart on the morning of February 28.