The decision to postpone the media briefing came minutes after Pakistan announced that it will release the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman
Security personnel stand on the road to various ministries in New Delhi on February 28, 2019. (Photo by Prakash SINGH / AFP)
A joint press conference by the three services of the Indian armed forces which was scheduled to be held at 5 pm today has been postponed to 7 pm.
The decision to postpone the media briefing came minutes after Pakistan announced that it will release the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman as a peace gesture amid the heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.
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According to reports, the joint press conference by Army, Air Force and Navy will now be toned down.
Reports say that the venue has been shifted from inside the building of the Ministry of Defence to its lawns.
In a major decision that won applause of all the lawmakers in Pakistan, Imran Khan announced in the country’s parliament his government’s decision to release the IAF pilot on Friday.
“In our desire for peace, I announce that tomorrow, and as a first step to open negotiations, Pakistan will be releasing the Indian Air Force officer in our custody,” Pak PM Imran Khan said in the country’s parliament.
He also requested India to “not escalate [military action] from this point”.
“Because then we will be forced to respond and retaliate, and that will not be a happy situation for both nations,” the Pakistani Prime Minister said.
The decision came after India said that it will not agree on any deal with Pakistan and demanded his unconditional and immediate release. The press conference now stands postponed at the time of writing.
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