Former India batsman Navjot Singh Sidhu has hailed Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s announcement that will see captured Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. As the political tension between India and Pakistan escalate in the wake of the Pulwama attack, the entire nation was sent into shock when videos emerged showing Abhinandan being caught by Pakistani army. The Air Force officer was brutally beaten by Pakistani villagers before being taken by soldiers in clips that have since gone viral on social media.
Later, a video released by Major General Ghafoor shows a blindfolded Abhinandan telling his name and service number. He also very calmly says that is the only information he can reveal. Since then, there has been widespread calls from the general public to bring back Abhinandan. And within a day of capturing him, Pakistan, on Thursday, announced the soldier would return home on Friday.
Imran Khan has said the pilot being held by the Pakistan army will be released tomorrow. Imran Khan was speaking in the Pakistani National Assembly where he said that Pakistan does not want a war. Khan said he is willing to speak to PM Narendra Modi. Khan said that as a peace gesture, Pakistan would release the Indian pilot tomorrow.
Delighted with the news, Navjot Singh Sidhu took to Twitter to hail Imran Khan for his ‘noble act’, writing:
“@ImranKhanPTI Every noble act makes a way for itself… your goodwill gesture is ‘a cup of joy’ for a billion people, a nation rejoices… I am overjoyed for his parents and loved ones.”
@ImranKhanPTI Every noble act makes a way for itself… your goodwill gesture is ‘a cup of joy’ for a billion people, a nation rejoices…
I am overjoyed for his parents and loved ones.— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) February 28, 2019
Navjot Singh Sidhu, meanwhile, recently faced a lot of flak for his comment on the Pulwama attack. While the whole nation iwas calling for complete boycott of Pakistan, the cricketer-turned-politician defended them. He had said ‘terrorists do not have deen, mazhab (sect and religion)’ before stating that one couldn’t blame an entire nation for such attacks. He also called for a dialogue to find a permanent solution to end the bloodshed.