Bollywood celebs pray for the safe return of IAF Wing Commander from Pakistan

The video of IAF Wing commander in the custody of Pakistani army has been going viral since this afternoon in which the MiG pilot is seen interacting with people surrounding him in a composed and stoic manner while he is bleeding from face and has blindfolds on his eyes. The nation is concerned about his soldier who ejected safely but landed across the Line of Control after his MiG 21 Bison aircraft was shot down by the Pakistan Air Force while engaged in hot pursuit to repel enemy attack on Wednesday. He was then taken into custody by the Pak army. In the video, he refused to answer any question, except for giving his ID number, designation and marital status. The various other video and pictures which have surfaced online has sent nation in shock and pain and while the country prays for his safe return home, the Bollywood celebrities also join in in urging Pakistan to send him back to India. These include Sushmita Sen, Karan Johar, Anupam Kher, Swara Bhaskar, Taapsee Pannu and many others. Check out what the Bollywood celebrities have been tweeting:  Anupam Kher: 

यह असीम, निज सीमा जाने, सागर भी तो यह पहचाने ईस मिट्टी के पुतले मानव ने कभी न मानी हार, तूफानों की ओर घुमा दो नाविक निज पतवार। Salute the courage of #IAF officer #WingCommandorAbhinandan. दुनिया के हर कोने में बैठा भारतीय आपकी बहादुरी का क़ायल है और आपके साथ है।जय हिंद। ???????????? pic.twitter.com/LxDZSB6SoI

— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) February 27, 2019

Karan Johar: "Thoughts and strength to #WingCommandarAbhinandan amd his familly....India stands tall and proud with you...."

Thoughts and strength to #WingCommandarAbhinandan amd his familly....India stands tall and proud with you....

— Karan Johar (@karanjohar) February 27, 2019

Actress Taapsee Pannu re-tweeted the news about Varthaman and said this is what she feared in all "this celebration" after the IAF fighter jets struck terror launch pads in Pakistan on Tuesday.

Now this is why I feared in all this celebration. Now what ! https://t.co/E8lLdurr9h

— taapsee pannu (@taapsee) February 27, 2019

Actress Swara Bhasker said: "#BringHimHome #BringBackAbhinandhan BRING HIM BACK !!!!!!!" "We hope and pray for the safety of our soldiers and officers. Please stop circulating fake and old videos and creating panic and miscommunication. Things are tense and volatile as it is. Please be responsible."

#BringHimHome #BringBackAbhinandhan BRING HIM BACK !!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/efHtYk7FM7

— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) February 27, 2019

We hope and pray for the safety of our soldiers and officers! https://t.co/xI960N25as

— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) February 27, 2019

Renuka Shahane: "Please do not share the video of our brave IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan in captivity. Let's pray for his safety. Our defence forces are trained for all eventualities but let us not with our frivolous behaviour make it difficult for their families[folded hands emoji]".

Please do not share the video of our brave IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan in captivity. Let's pray for his safety. Our defence forces are trained for all eventualities but let us not with our frivolous behaviour make it difficult for their families????????????????

— Renuka Shahane (@renukash) February 27, 2019

Madhur Bhandarkar: "I join millions of Indians in praying for safe return of WC #Abhinandan. Admire the courage with which he is facing the situation, calm, composed and strong. I appeal to the Pak Authorities to treat him well and ensure his quick and safe return to India."

I join millions of Indians in praying for safe return of WC #Abhinandan. Admire the courage with which he is facing the situation, calm, composed and strong. I appeal to the Pak Authorities to treat him well and ensure his quick and safe return to India.

— Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) February 27, 2019

Actress Nimrat Kaur, who comes from an Army background: "Strength and resolve to the family and loved ones of Wing Commander. The nation's prayers and thoughts are with him in this tough hour. May this stoic, dignified officer be back on Indian soil soon." Former beauty queen Sushmita Sen, the daughter of a retired Indian Air Force officer, wrote: "We are all praying for the safe return of Wing Commander." "To all those who cheered from the sidelines yesterday, with all humility I ask you to read the next sentence. 'He has still not returned'," filmmaker Nikkhil Advani tweeted. Actress and daughter of Colonel V.K. Jaitley, Celina Jaitly said that Tuesday's action by India was "counter terrorism" and "no civilians (were) hurt, no military personnel targeted/hurt. "What Pakistan did is an act of war, they targeted military personnel, while no one wants war, Pakistan has aggravated the situation. Praying for Wing Commander's safe return." Some celebrities also urged the media and social media community to be more responsible and to steer clear from spreading anger. Ranganathan Madhavan: It's a war against terror not between two nations yet. Dear Media -- You can actually stop this escalation... Please let's be responsible and work towards peace. Shekhar Kapur: It's really important not to fan the flames of war rhetoric. It's not a game. You are not facing bullets or bombs. You are not the family praying and hoping fervently that your husbands, brothers or fathers are safe. Nor living in border areas in fear. It's easy to be armchair soldiers. Richa Chadha: Can news media be tried for inciting war? For ugly graphics, video game footage, provocative hashtags. Funnily, here is one place we are united eh India, Pakistan - in fake news! Vishal Dadlani: Indian or Pakistani, if you have any brains and any love/respect for your soldiers, say it out loud. We don't want war. We need peace. "I can't get #Abhinandan out of my head. Could everyone in any sorta authority just stop doing anything else and do what it takes to bring him back, please?"

I can't get #Abhinandan out of my head. Could everyone in any sorta authority just stop doing anything else and do what it takes to bring him back, please?

— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) February 27, 2019

The punjabi actor who's seen in hindi films like 'Udta Punjab', 'Phillauri' and 'Soorma' also postponed the unveiling of his Madame Tussauds wax statue at Delhi museum in wake of the tension between India and Pakistan. He tweeted: Diljit Dosanjh: "Our soldiers are fighting hard to protect the Nation. We stand by our Soldiers . Amidst the tensions rising across the Nation, have decided to re-schedule the launch of #MadameTussauds WAX Statue Will Post New Date Soon[folded hands emoji] @MadameTussauds @tussaudsdelhi".

Our soldiers are fighting hard to protect the Nation. We stand by our Soldiers . Amidst the tensions rising across the Nation, have decided to re-schedule the launch of #MadameTussauds WAX Statue Will Post New Date Soon????@MadameTussauds @tussaudsdelhi #BringBackAbhinandan ????

— DILJIT DOSANJH (@diljitdosanjh) February 27, 2019

Diljit Dosanjh’s wax statue unveiling postponed as Indo-Pak tensions rise! 'Rang De Basanti' fame actor Sidharth: "Terrorists kill our men. We destroy a terror camp (they deny casualties but don't deny existence of terror camp). They capture our pilot. This isn't even on the same footing. #Pakistan supports terror. #India does not. War can't and won't change this fact. Neither will diplomacy." However, the video released through Twitter was withdrawn within minutes, keeping in view the Geneva Convention dictating that a prisoner of war should not be shown publicly in a humiliating manner. There were other video clips on social media where he could be seen beaten by locals while lying in a stream before being taken away by soldiers. The veracity of the videos could not be ascertained. Hours later, the Pakistan Army released another video, lasting 1.19 minutes, where he can be seen drinking tea, cleaned up but with his face bruised and eyes swollen. The officer again answers questions with composure and no display of fear.

There is only one pilot under Pakistan Army’s custody. Wing Comd Abhi Nandan is being treated as per norms of military ethics: DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor#PakistanArmyZindabad #PakistanAirForceOurPride #PakistanZindabad ???????? pic.twitter.com/NwfKELb2Tv

— Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) February 27, 2019

To most queries, he says he is sorry as he is not supposed to divulge any details. "I hope you like the tea," the interrogator is heard asking. "It is fantastic," he answers.

India on Wednesday demanded immediate and safe return of an IAF pilot who was detained by Pakistan following an aerial engagement by air forces of the two countries.

IAF personnel in Pak custody: Here's what is stated in the Geneva Convention (With inputs from agency)