Saved from furious Pakistani mob, captured Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman becomes bloodied face of Kashmir crisis
- The captured pilot is seen being punched and kicked by an apparent Pakistani mob in widely shared video
- Pakistan’s military later released a video of the pilot sipping tea and thanking them for behaving like ‘thorough gentlemen’
A downed Indian fighter pilot who was attacked by a mob and then paraded on video by Pakistan’s army has become a social media sensation and a hero in his homeland amid a spiralling crisis between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
With Pakistani villagers and soldiers filming his capture and captivity on Wednesday in clips that have since gone viral on social media, the pilot identified by Islamabad as “Indian Wing Commander Abhi Nandan” has fast emerged as the human face of the dangerous flare-up between the arch-foes.
India has not confirmed the pilot’s identity. But Indian media have given his full name as Abhinandan Varthaman.
The pilot and the Indian Air Force (IAF) are at the heart of the crisis between two countries that have conducted air strikes on each other’s territory in the last two days. The United States and China have appealed for restraint.
The airman’s treatment at the hands of Pakistani troops drew both condemnation and praise, while at his house in southern India supporters gathered to record messages of solidarity.