Imran Khan says captured Indian pilot will be released tomorrow after India’s demand

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that the captured Indian Air Force pilot would be released the next day, after India pressed for his return. Tension between the two countries had not eased at the time of the announcement.

India’s demands

India handed Pakistan a dossier on the Jaish-e-Mohammad and asked for the pilot to be sent back as soon as possible. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said the dispute between India and Pakistan would be resolved soon. Neither India nor Pakistan had issued an official statement on his remarks.

What happened next

The pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, was returned by Pakistan on 1 March 2019. The confrontation had begun with the Pulwama attack on 14 February 2019, which was followed by the Indian Air Force strike at Balakot on 26 February 2019. The episode came only weeks before the general election of 2019, in which voting ran from 11 April to 19 May and votes were counted on 23 May 2019.

See also: election news and elections

Originally published on 28 February 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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