Pakistan Makes IAF Pilot Abhinandan Record Video Before Release, Deletes It After Backlash

Pilot Abhinandan Varthaman to India at Wagah was delayed on Friday he was asked to record a statement on camera by Pakistani authorities before he was allowed to cross the border, official sources said.

The Pakistan government later took it sown from its official Twitter account, Radio Pakistan. It was not clear whether he was made to record the video under duress as the video had several jump cuts indicating that it had been edited heavily, apparently to fit Pakistani propaganda.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) said that Varthaman shot down an F-16 but there is no mention of that in the video message recorded before his release.

One Twitter user noticed that24-second minute 24 second long video, there were 17 cuts and jumps, further urging people to not share the video.

The Indian Air Force said that Varthaman shot down an F-16 but there is no mention of that in the video message recorded before his release.

The Pakistan government released the pilot’s video message to the local media in which he said as to how he was captured and praised the “professionalism” of the Pakistani military.

“Recording of his video message caused delay in his handing over,” a source said. In the video message, Varthaman said he entered Pakistan’s space to “find a target” but his aircraft was shot down.

Pakistan had also released a video of the IAF pilot sipping tea and talking to a Pakistani military official on Wednesday, hours after his capture. In that video too, Abhinandan said he was being treated well and that he was ‘quite impressed’ by the Pakistani army officials.