Pakistan and India are currently de-escalating the tension between them with Pakistan releasing the Indian fighter pilot in their custody, wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman on March 1. This comes days after the Indian Air Force’s airstrike against a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Pakistan’s Balakot on February 26. The following day, there was a brief clash between Indian and Pakistani fighter planes in which Varthaman’s plane was brought down. In the midst of this, the Opposition issued a joint statement which extended full support to the armed forces and their actions, but accused the ruling BJP of trying to use the situation for political gains.
