Mainstream, pro-freedom leaders welcome Imran’s peace gesture to release captured IAF pilot

Srinagar: The mainstream political parties of Jammu and Kashmir as well as pro-freedom leaders on Thursday welcomed the peace gestured of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to release the captured Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.
IAF Pilot was arrested on Wednesday after his fighter jet crashed in Pakistan Administered Kashmir. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in a joint session Thursday announced that captured IAF Pilot will be released on Friday.
The former chief minister including Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti and Peoples conference (PC) chairman Sajad Gani Lone and a pro-freedom leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq took to the social networking site and welcomed the Pak PM’s decision.
In a tweet, Mehbooba said, “The decision to hand over Wing Commander Abhinandan is a great gesture & shouldn’t be seen in isolation. It also comes at a time when Pak could’ve chosen to further escalate an already tensed situation. I see it as a mark of reconciliation. Our leadership should reciprocate.”
In a tweet, Omar Abdullah said, “Glad to know that Wing Commandar Abhinandan will be heading home. I’ll wait for him to be back on Indian soil before I welcome him back but I’m greatly relieved that PM Imran Khan PTI has announced the imminent release of our pilot.
Taking to micro blogging social networking site twitter Sajad Lone wrote, “Welcome decision by Pakistan PM @ImranKhanPTI to release the captive indian pilot as a peace gesture. Hope better sense prevails the war clouds scatter and the #Kashmir dispute moves towards a peaceful resolution.”
“Welcome decision by Pakistan PM @ImranKhanPTI to release the captive indian pilot as a peace gesture. Hope better sense prevails the war clouds scatter and the #Kashmir dispute moves towards a peaceful resolution,” Mirwaiz tweeted.