Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman again praises Pakistan Army upon return | Pakistan

Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman again praises Pakistan Army upon return

NEW DELHI: Indian pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has once again praised Pakistan military upon his return to India.

Indian media reported that “Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has disclosed that Pakistani military personnel did not physically torture him during the nearly 60 hours he spent in their custody.”

Pakistan on Friday handed over Abhinandan to Indian authorities at Wagah border.

Wing Commander Abhinandan was captured when his MiG-21 among two Indian military aircraft was shot down by the Pakistan Air Force after they ventured into the Pakistani airspace.

During his captivity in Pakistan, Abhinandan had praised professionalism of Pakistan Army and termed it ‘impressive’.

In a video, Abhinandan was holding a cup of tea and thanked Pakistan Army Captain and his team for rescuing him from mob.

He went on say “I will not change my stance if I go back to my country India.”

“This is what I would expect from my Army,” he said lauding the professionalism and attitude of Pakistan Army.

Also, in another video message shortly before his release, Abhinandan had said, “My name is Wing Commander Abhinandan,” he stated for the record in the statement. “I am a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force. 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 when 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,” he was heard saying in the video. “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 Pakistan Army is a very professional service. I see peace in it. I have spent time with the Pakistan Army [and] I am very impressed.” “Indian media always stretches the truth,” he regretted. “The smallest of things are presented in a very incendiary manner and people get misled.”