Abhinandan statement an attempt to “distort history”: ISPR

Pakistan military on Thursday rubbished a recent political statement on the release of a captured Indian air force pilot as an attempt to “distort history” and tarnish Pakistan’s success against the Indian aggression.

Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar said India was taking undue advantage of this negative narrative to discredit Pakistan of its successful strike and retaliation to the Indian misadventure on February 27 last year.

Major General Babar Iftikhar said the the objective of one-point agenda press conference was to correct the facts.

Former Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq on Wednesday in a statement made at the National Assembly claimed that Pakistan agreed to return the captured Indian Air Force Pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan as it feared an attack by India, in February last.

Prime Minister Imran Khan had announced the release of the felled Indian aircraft as a “goodwill gesture.”

However the DG ISPR, without naming anyone said interpretations about release of Abhinandan were misleading and tantamount to discrediting the country’s victory over India.  He said India was taking undue advantage of the negative narrative as evident from today’s its media coverage and hype.

He said the superiority of Pakistan Armed Forces was acknowledged not only globally but also by the Indian military leadership. The release of Abhinandan was a responsible decision taken by the national leadership.

“…we gave them [Indian forces] a bloody nose and (which) is still hurting.”

DG ISPR said Pakistan’s armed forces that were already on high alert and gave a befitting response to India after its abortive attempt to strike inside Pakistani territory on 26 February 2019, on a purported training camp near Balakot.

“The enemy aircraft that had entered Pakistan airspace to drop explosives escaped while dropping their payload on empty mountains in sheer panic after seeing our Shaheens,” Major General Babar Iftikhar said.

He said the armed forces and the country’s leadership were united in their objective to teach India a lesson. He said Pakistan responded to India in broad daylight.”

“Not only we gave then a proper response, but also shot down two enemy war planes and captured Wing Commander Abhinandan.”