Lucknow, Mar 2 (IBNS): BSP supremo Mayawati on Saturday welcomed Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan, who was captured by Pakistan, to India as he returned to his country on Friday.
Mayawati tweeted: "Hearty welcome safe return of IAF pilot Abhinandan from Pak custody. Big relief & ease of tension is natural but sensing sea change in security scenario around, India must have a long, lasting & credible policy for its security-honour besides a good policy to deal with neighbours."
Hearty welcome safe return of IAF pilot Abhinandan from Pak custody. Big relief & ease of tension is natural but sensing sea change in security scenario around, India must have a long, lasting & credible policy for its security-honour besides a good policy to deal with neighbours
— Mayawati (@Mayawati) March 2, 2019
A day after the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted surgical strike, Abhinandan was captured when his MiG-21 Bison fighter had fallen across the Line of Control in Pak-Occuppied Kashmir (PoK) on Feb 27, when the Indian pilot was engaged in a dogfight with an intruding Pakistani F-16 fighter jet.
He was taken into the custody by Pakistan army.
After India refused to sit across the table with its neighbouring country, which was facing an immense international pressure since Feb 14 Pulwama attack, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced he will send Abhinandan to his own soil as a "peace gesture".
Abhinandan finally reached India through the Wagah border at around 9 pm on Friday.
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