India-Pak Tension LIVE: Sushma Swaraj Quotes Rig Veda at Islamic Nations’ Conclave to Condemn Terror

Chief Minister of Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh said that he would love to go to receive IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman but there's laid out protocol which will be followed in this case as well. "Whenever anybody comes back like happened to Prisoners of war in 1965 and 1971, they had to first go for medical and then be debriefed. I think the same process will be followed here,' he said.

The tension at the border had clearly found its way to the Old Delhi Railway station's platform number one. While the rest of the station was crowded with people travelling to different parts of the country, this one was eerily empty.

Beating the Retreat Ceremony Cancelled | Deputy Commissioner Shiv Dular Singh Dhillon, Amritsar said that the Beating the Retreat ceremony at Attari-Wagah Border will not be held today. A senior team of the Indian Air Force will receive Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, he added.

Human rights and civil society organisations such as Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Asma Jahangir Legal Aid Cell, Bonded Labour Liberation Front, Women Action Forum and others led protests in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

Islamabad High Court Dismissed Plea Against Abhinandan's Release | Dismissing the plea, the Islamabad High Court gave a go-ahead to the repatriation of IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. The petitioner said the Indian pilot had violated the airspace of Pakistan to bomb the country and therefore he committed crime against Pakistan and should face trial here. 

Petition Filed in Pakistan court Against IAF Pilot's Release | A Pakistani citizen on Friday filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court to stop the imminent release of the captured Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinanadan Varthaman, saying he committed a crime against the country and should be put on trial. The petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) sought the court's order to stop Prime Minister Imran Khan's government from handing over the Indian Air Force pilot.

Woman Injured After Pakistan Army Targets Border Areas in Poonch | The Pakistan Army on Friday heavily shelled areas along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, leaving a woman injured. This is the eighth consecutive day that Pakistan has violated the ceasefire. A woman identified as Naseem Akhtar was injured in the firing in Mankote area of Poonch. On Thursday, a woman was killed and a jawan was injured when Pakistani Army heavily shelled civilian areas and forward posts in six sectors along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Rajouri districts, drawing retaliation from the Indian Army.

Pakistan Ignores India's Request to Return IAF Pilot by Air | Hours after Pakistan announced its decision to release Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, India conveyed to Islamabad that it wants him to be sent back via aerial route and not through the Wagah land border. However, late in the night, Pakistan communicated to India that he will be returned through the Attari-Wagah border. The Indian defence establishment was also mulling over sending a special aircraft to Pakistan to bring back Wing Commander Varthaman. Varthaman will now return home through the Wagah border which is around 25 km from Lahore in Pakistan.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who yesterday offered to receive Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman when he returns, won't be going to Wagah to receive the Indian Air Force pilot as he has not heard from the Centre. The chief minister tweeted the Prime Minister offering to receive him.

Pakistan Formally Informs India about Abhinandan's Release | Meanwhile, Pakistan formally informed India of its decision to release captured IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman. Acting Indian High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia on Friday visited the Foreign Office to fulfil formalities ahead of the Indian pilot's repatriation. Indian Air Attaché Group Captain J.T. Krain has left for Lahore with travel documents of the pilot. He will escort the pilot back to India.

Sushma's Concluding Speech | "I come from the land of Mahatma Gandhi where every prayer ends with call for 'shanti' that is peace for all. I convey our best wishes, support and solidarity in your quest for stability, peace, harmony, economic growth and prosperity for your people and world," she said.

Fight Against Terror Can't be Won Either by War or Intelligence | Urging countries to come together and block terror funding, Sushma Swaraj said, "If we want to save humanity, then we need to tell nations supporting terror that they need to stop funding terror organisation." She further emphasised on the fact that the fight against terror cannot be won by war or intelligence.

'Islam Means Peace' | Sushma Swaraj said, "Terrorism in each case is driven by distortion of religion. Fight against terror is not a confrontation against any religion. Just as Islam means peace, none of the 99 names of Allah means violence. Similarly, every religion stands for peace."

Sushma Quotes Rig Veda in OIC | "Pluralism is embedded in the oldest Sanskrit religious text The Rig Veda and I quote "Ekam sat vipra bahudha vadhanti",  which means “God is One but learned men describe him in many ways".

India Embraces Pluralism | Upholding the diversity of India, Sushma Swaraj said that India has always embraced pluralism. Muslims in India practice their respective beliefs and live in harmony with each other and with their non-Muslim brothers. It's this appreciation of diversity and coexistence that has ensured that very few Muslims in India have fallen prey to poisonous propaganda of radicalist and extremist ideologies."

India Stands with OIC in Fight Against Terror | Lauding the Islamic countries for their efforts if stifling terrorism, Sushma Swaraj said, "Choices you (OIC) make have a huge inpact on humanity. We are with you. 

"Terrorism is destroying lives, destabilising regions and putting the world at great peril. Terror reach is growing and the toll it is taking is increasing," the External Affairs Minister said at OIC conclave.

Sushma Swaraj Raises Issue of Terrorism | Bringing up the issue of terrorism at the global conclave, Swaraj said that the peril of terrorism is growing in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. "We see the terrible face of terror. We are witnessing the terrible and senseless destruction of terrorism. Terror is growing and we are seeing the terrible face of terror in many of our countries."

Sushma Swaraj said that she is honoured to join colleagues from nations that represent a great religion and ancient civilisations. "I stand here as a representative of the land that has been a mountain of knowledge, beacon of peace, the source of faith & traditions, home to many religions&one of the major economies."

Empty Pakistani chair at OIC as Guest of Honour Sushma Swaraj gives her speech.

India has excellent political ties with many as a result of our economic growth. We share warm times with our immediate Islamic neighbours like Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Presently gulf countries are our biggest markets and energy partners: Sushma Swaraj 

Swaraj Acknowledges Invitation | Thanking member nations of OIC for inviting India and hearing its voice, Sushma Swaraj said, "OIC members constitute one-fourth of the United Nations and almost a quarter of humanity. India shares much with you, many of us have shared dark days of colonialism."

Sushma Swaraj in her opening speech acknowledged that Muslims peacefully live in India in harmony with different other cultures. "Our Muslim community is a microcosm of India. They speak different languages and have different culinary tastes. Very few Muslims in India have fallen prey to terror and terrorism," she said.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is addressing the Organisation of Islamic Countries session of foreign ministers. 

Deputy Commissioner Amritsar Shiv Dular Singh Dhillon said, "Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman will cross the border today. Can't tell you exact time since there are certain formalities. A senior Indian Air force team from Delhi is here, they will be the ones to receive him."

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at the foreign ministers' meet of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Abu Dhabi. She will shortly address the session as the Guest of Honour.

BJP President Amit Shah on Friday slammed Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for not condemning the Pulwama terror attack and asked how can India trust him. Shah said the Modi government has been able to create "fear" in the minds of those behind terrorism with its action against Pakistan-based terrorists.

France to Chair UNSC Presidency | France took over the presidency of United Nations Security Council on Friday. The presidency of the Security Council rotates every one month following the English alphabetical order. The US, UK and France will be joint proposers of the Masood Azhar resolution next week.

The IAF pilot was taken into custody by Pakistan on Wednesday after he landed on the other side of the Line of Control as his aircraft crashed during an aerial dogfight between India and Pakistan.

People await the return of IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman at the Wagah border.