INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightAFPImage caption
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman
Indian air force pilot Abhinandan
Varthaman, captured by Pakistani forces on Wednesday, has become the point of focus amid tensions between the two countries.The fighter
pilot, who has 16 years of experience, is from the southern city of Chennai (formerly known as Madras)
His jet was shot down in what Islamabad called a "retaliation" to India conducting airstrikes in its territory.His capture is being seen as
a major setback for India.The government has demanded his immediate release and Indian social media is full of tweets about him, with many
calling him a hero and praying for his safe return.Dramatic details of how he was captured in Pakistan have also begun to emerge
"I saw the Indian flag on his parachute and knew he was Indian
I also saw his plane get hit and saw him float down," Mohammad Razzaq Chaudhry, a resident of Bhimber district in Pakistani-administered
Kashmir who witnessed the moment the jet was shot down on Wednesday, told TheIndianSubcontinent's Ilyas Khan.He added that locals rushed
to the fallen pilot and that he was "afraid" that they might harm him
Mr Chaudhry said that some of the men were angry and attacked the pilot while others tried to stop them
"I told them not to harm him - to leave him alone until the army comes." Local media in India reported that crowds began thronging his
family home soon after news of his capture spread
The Hindustan Times newspaper quoted one of his relatives as saying that they wanted the government to "secure his release" without
delay.His family has refused to comment about his capture
The son of a decorated former fighter pilot, Wing Cdr Abhinandan was first commissioned as a fighter pilot in 2004
He is reported to be in his mid-30s
His father, Air Marshal Simhakutty Varthaman, worked with decorated Tamil film maker Mani Ratnam, acting as an adviser for his 2017 film,
Kaatru Veliyidai, which was set against the backdrop of the 1999 Kargil conflict between India and Pakistan
Mr Varthaman was the air marshal at the time
The Kargil conflict was the last time an Indian solider was captured and held by Pakistani forces
Group Captain K Nachiketa, who was also an air force pilot, was in Pakistan's custody for eight days after his jet crashed in their
Image copyrightEPAImage caption
Anti-India protesters in Pakistan have printed posters showing Abhinandan
He is now retired and lives in the southern city of Hyderabad."He [Wing Cdr Abhinandan] should be treated appropriately as an officer and
sent back to India," Group Captain Nachiketa told TheIndianSubcontinent Telugu
"He is brave and courageous and we are all proud of him." He added that he did not want to talk about his capture but said that "all
officers are trained for this and I am sure he will be with us shortly and join his unit again soon."A clip of his appearance on a local
television show - NDTV Good Times - in 2011 is also being circulated widely
In it, he is heard joking about how you need a "bad attitude" to be a successful fighter pilot
He also talks about how you trust your colleagues with your life, referring to "blind faith" in your co-pilot when you're in the air
India had initially said that all of its pilots were accounted for, contradicting Pakistani claims that they had captured a pilot.However
Pakistan's information ministry then released - and later deleted - a video showing the pilot blindfolded and with blood on his face
This prompted a furious Delhi to summon Islamabad's deputy high commissioner and condemn what it called the "vulgar display of an injured
In later footage, Wing Commander Abhinandan could be seen sipping tea from a cup without a blindfold
He appeared to have been cleaned up.He said his name, military position and that he was from "down south", but refused to share any details
when asked about his mission: "I'm not supposed to tell you that."Pakistan's military spokesman Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor said the pilot was
being "treated as per norms of military ethics".Many of India's politicians expressed concern and solidarity with the pilot
A joint opposition statement accused the government of "blatant politicisation of the armed forces' sacrifices"
