Days after ceasefire, Pakistan PM talks of Kashmir, Abhinandan

NEW DELHI: Days after the Director-General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan announced the implementation of the 2003 ceasefire, Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan once again mentioned about the Kashmir issue.

Imran Khan tweeted, “I welcome restoration of the ceasefire along with the Line of Control (LoC). The onus of creating an enabling environment for further progress rests with India. India must take necessary steps to meet the long-standing demand and right of the Kashmiri people to self-determination acc to UNSC resolutions.”

“We also demonstrated to the world Pakistan’s responsible behaviour in the face of India’s irresponsible military brinkmanship, by returning the captured Indian pilot. We have always stood for peace & remain ready to move forward to resolve all outstanding issues through dialogue,” he further said in his tweet.

On this day in 2019, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was captured by Pakistan when Pakistani Air Force struck down two Indian jets.

Abhinandan’s jet was shot down in what Islamabad called a ‘retaliation’ to India conducting air strikes in its territory. 

Varthaman was captured after he bailed out of his aircraft across the Line of Control. He was eventually sent back to India.

The United States, United Nations, have all welcomed the reinforcement of the 2003 ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

India also said that it wants normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan but its position on key issues remains unchanged.

Imran Khan’s raking up of the Kashmir issue is unlikely to go down well with India, as New Delhi has maintained that it is a bilateral issue and is ready to hold a dialogue only when Pakistan stops sponsoring militancy.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has not responded to Imran Khan’s recent assertion as of now.