Summary:
If IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman was not released from captivity, India would have attacked Pakistan by 9 pm that night, feared the Pakistan government in February 2019 following the dogfight with India.
The claim has been made a Pakistani MP while recounting his discussion with minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
This was cited as the reason behind the Imran Khan government abruptly releasing IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman who was captured after his jet crashed into Pakistani territory following the dogfight in the aftermath of the Balakot airstrike.
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New Delhi: After a Pakistani MP claimed that the Imran Khan government was dreading an attack by India following the capture of IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, former IAF chief BS Dhanoa said the Indian air force could have wiped out the forward brigades of Pakistan.
"I told Abhinandan`s father, we`ll definitely get him back...
The way he (Pak MP) is saying is because our military posture was offensive...
we were in a position to wipe out their forward brigades.
They know our capability,” said former IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal (Retd.) BS Dhanoa.
Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) leader Ayaz Sadiq said that Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had in an important meeting pointed out that if Pakistan did not release Abhinandan Varthaman, India would attack Pakistan "that night by 9 pm." Reacting to the Pakistani MP’s remarks, BJP chief JP Nadda hit out at Congress and said the Opposition doesn’t believe in the strength of India’s forces.
In a series of tweets, JP Nadda said, “Congress Party premised it’s entire campaign around keeping our armed forces weak.