Navjot Sidhu hails Imran Khan after he announces the release of the Indian pilot

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, on Thursday, showed the way forward by announcing that Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman would be returned to India as a ‘peace gesture’. Aerial combat between Indian and Pakistani fighter planes on Wednesday saw Abhinandan falling in the enemy territory before being manhandled by the angry mob. But the Pakistan army intervened in time and released a video which showed the Air Force Wing Commander was being treated well.

“I tried to call (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi to say that we don’t want escalation. But our desire for de-escalation should not be taken as our weakness,” Imran Khan said before adding: “We have an Indian pilot. As a peace gesture, we will release him.”

At a time when the political tension in both the countries is at an all-time high due to the Pulwama attack, which was carried out by Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed, Imran Khan has taken a big step towards restoring peace. Unsurprisingly, his decision has been praised by many including several cricketers from both the sides of the border. Among the many cricketers, one is Navjot Singh Sidhu.

The former Indian batsman had recently faced the flak after defending Pakistan despite the Pulwama attack that had shocked the entire country. While the country was yet to come to terms with the ghastly attack, Sidhu had said, “For a handful of people, can you blame the entire nation and can you blame an individual? It (the attack) is a cowardly act and I condemn it firmly. Violence is always condemnable and those who did it must be punished”.

Sidhu has now praised Imran Khan for his gesture. The cricketer-turned-politician, who had sensationally attended Imran Khan’s swearing-in ceremony last year, tweeted: “@ImranKhanPTI Every noble act makes a way for itself… your goodwill gesture is ‘a cup of joy’ for a billion people, a nation rejoices… I am overjoyed for his parents and loved ones.”

Here is Sidhu’s tweet

@ImranKhanPTI Every noble act makes a way for itself… your goodwill gesture is ‘a cup of joy’ for a billion people, a nation rejoices…
I am overjoyed for his parents and loved ones.

— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) February 28, 2019

Dialogue the way forward:

While the future is uncertain as far as the relation between India and Pakistan is concerned, Sidhu batted for talks with Pakistan as he advocated for peace.

In a letter, titled ‘We have a choice’, Sidhu mentioned: “On both sides of the border, tacticians are planning for the worst. They must think the worst of one another, because only in thinking the worst do they believe that they can protect and defend. But this belief is a mirage.”

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