Pakistani Army Feared Indian Escalation After Capturing IAF Pilot Abhinandan: Ex-Envoy

The tense aftermath of the 2019 Balakot air strike by India is revisited in a new book by former High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ajay Bisaria. He has disclosed that the then Pakistani Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa expressed a desire to release captured Indian IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman. This move was prompted by concerns of potential strong retaliation from India. The Balakot Air Strike, conducted by the Indian Air Force on February 26, 2019, targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Wing Commander Varthaman, flying a MiG-21 Bison, successfully downed a Pakistani F-16 during an aerial dogfight over the Line of Control on the next day. Subsequently, his own MiG-21 Bison was hit, leading to his ejection and landing in Pakistani territory. He was held captive for approximately 60 hours before being handed over to India.

In his book titled “Anger Management: The Troubled Diplomatic Relationship between India and Pakistan,” Bisaria also asserted that Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI had provided information to India about an Al-Qaeda plot to carry out an attack in Kashmir in June 2019.

Bisaria mentioned that during the crisis, then Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa briefed Members of Parliament in Pakistan, emphasizing the risk of escalation and advocating for the prompt return of the Indian pilot to avert potential severe consequences.

Regarding Prime Minister Modi’s “Qatal ki raat” (night of the murder) reference, Bisaria noted that Pakistan received intelligence about India’s missile attack plans. Imran Khan attempted to reach out to PM Modi, but the call went unanswered. Both leaders later addressed their respective parliaments on the matter.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan reportedly informed the country’s Parliament that he attempted to contact PM Modi hours before the Balakot air strike in 2019.