Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi says ‘willing to consider IAF pilot’s return if it leads to de-escalation of tensions’
Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
The Pakistani foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, on Thursday, stated that his country is willing to consider returning the captured Indian Air Force pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, if it leads to “de-escalation of tensions” with India. The minister also said that Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is ready to hold talk with his Indian counterpart, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, over the phone to offer him peace.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, on Thursday, Qureshi said, “Pakistan is willing to consider returning the Indian pilot if it leads to de-escalation,” and rhetorically asked “Prime Minister Imran Khan is ready to talk to Narendra Modi on the telephone and ready to extend an invitation of peace. Is Modi ready?”
Qureshi then added, “We are ready for every eventuality. If they give priority to peace, we are ready for peace. If they priorities dialogue, we are ready for dialogue.”
After Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Muhammed carried out the suicide attack on a CRPF convoy killing over 40 personnel, India carried out air strikes on Jaish training camps deep inside Pakistan. Following this, Pakistani warplanes entered Indian airspace, shot down an Indian Air Force MiG-21 and captured its pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. In the process, Pakistan also lost an F-16 fighter plane.
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