According to reports, the media will be briefed by the three service chiefs – Army chief General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa and Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba.

New Delhi, February 28, 2019

The Indian Army, Navy and the Air Force will hold a joint press conference at 5 pm on Thursday amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan ever since the 14 February Pulwama terror attack and the subsequent IAF strike against a terrorist training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) across the LoC.

Media Briefing Not To Be Aired Live, Say Reports

The announcement of the joint press conference by the three service chiefs – a rare event – comes a day after an IAF pilot, identified as Wing Commander Abhinandan, was captured after his fighter jet was shot down in an aerial engagement with a PAF F-16 which had violated Indian airspace to target Indian military installations.

It is expected that the three chiefs will comment on the steps being taken to get the pilot back as well as the measures being taken in the light of the escalating situation between the two nations which have already fought four wars since Independence.

Violation Of Geneva Convention By Pakistan

The Defence Ministry on Thursday strongly condemned the treatment of the IAF pilot who is currently in Pakistani captivity.

“We believe that the Pakistan air intrusion was an attack on military installations. We believe that the Indian Air Force Pilot (IAF) was ill-treated by the Pakistan Army in violation of the Geneva Convention,” the Ministry said in a statement.

“We believe that the Pakistan Army is actively supporting the Jaish-e-Mohammed and is harbouring the leaders including Masood Azhar in its facilities,” the Ministry added in the statement.

India Has Demanded The Immediate Release  Of Wing Commander Abhinandan

Sources: Pakistan is trying to create a Kandahar type pressure but India will not give in, there will be no deal or talks on Wing Commander #AbhinandanVartaman's release. https://t.co/UdYTZwhxHg

— ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2019

Pakistan, however, claimed that the pilot is “safe and healthy” while adding that a decision on whether he will be given the Prisoner of War status will be taken in a couple of days.

Quoting the Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal, Dawn reported, “India has raised the matter of the pilot with us. We’ll decide in a couple of days what convention will apply to him and whether to give him Prisoner of War status or not.”