Needless to say, this week was nothing short of a roller coaster ride for Pakistan. From facing war threats from across the border, to making ‘chai’ memes and seeing the country’s officials striving for peace, Pakistanis witnessed it all. And with the PM’s decision to send the Indian Wing Commander, Abhinandan Varthaman, back to his homeland, there has been all kinds of responses globally.
Read; #SayNoToWar: Pakistani celebrities react on Indo-Pak border tension
Interestingly, the Indo-Pak tension was documented on Twitter at every twist and turn. Twitterati from both sides of the border expressed their appreciation for PM Imran Khan, and lauded his efforts on maintaining peace throughout the fiasco. This included local prominent figures terming Khan’s gesture of goodwill as real statesmanship.
PM IK once again shows his amazing statemanship & confidence in Pak nation & state & announces release of Indian POW. This is the confidence of a ldr who believes in his nation's strength & does not need jingoistic slogans. Let world know Pak is a peace loving confident nation
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) February 28, 2019
PM @ImranKhanPTI government has scored massive wins in military, politics, diplomacy, morality and statesmanship in the last 48 hours. What a huge paradigm change. Finally a government devoid of personal interests & selfish goals. Pakistan UP on all fronts in this misadventure.
— Fakhr-e-Alam (@falamb3) February 28, 2019
What a wonderful moment to be alive, to be in #Pakistan and to call yourself a Pakistani citizen.
So proud of us. Its a long hard struggle towards a better pakistan which we fight everyday. We have lost so much. But today we smile. Today is a proud happy day. #PakistanZindabad— manshapasha (@manshapasha) February 28, 2019
I always knew the colours for peace were Green & White and today just proved it!We have said it again and again that we are a peace loving nation but today actions speak louder than words.Proud of our leader who shows us what is true,what is just & what is right #LetPeacePrevail
— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) February 28, 2019
I have never been more proud of being a Pakistani, proud of my Prime Minister, my army who want peace , my media who has been so responsible, my people who are all advocating for peace. SICKENING to see Indian media spreading war hysteria among its ppl. #PeaceNotWar #SayNoToWar
— Farhan Saeed (@farhan_saeed) February 28, 2019
And even some high-tier journalists and pivotal personalities from across the border couldn’t help but praise Khan in their tweets.
I was earlier a critic of @ImranKhanPTI , but after the wise and restrained speech he gave on TV I have become his admirer.https://t.co/vkouQvDbl6
— Markandey Katju (@mkatju) March 1, 2019
Never seen a Pakistani PM so outplay an Indian PM so completely.
— Krishan Partap Singh (@RaisinaSeries) February 28, 2019
MoD briefing, to announce release of Wing Comdr Abhinandan, has been pre-empted by Imran Khan, who announced it earlier. Now MoD briefing “postponed”. Whatever happens in real battle, Pakistan has comprehensively won the perception war. At every stage, their PR was ahead of ours.
— Ajai Shukla (@ajaishukla) February 28, 2019
Thank you people of Pakistan for sending our hero back to us.
Well done @ImranKhanPTI
Welcome home Abhinandan Varthmaan. #SayNoToWar— Shobhaa De (@DeShobhaa) February 28, 2019
Pak PM has exhibited real statesmanship today. It is time for our political leadership to step up & take measures to de escalate the current situation. People of J&K are living under unimaginable duress. How much longer will we suffer for?
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) February 28, 2019
India did the right thing by sending out a message that we will not tolerate terrorism. And Pakistan did the right thing by sending our Hero Wing Cmdr #Abhinandan back home! Let’s hope all leaders of India&Pakistan can figure a way to lead us towards peace #NoTerrorism #NoWar
— Huma Qureshi (@humasqureshi) February 28, 2019
What some people can’t get over is the fact that @ImranKhanPTI has won the hearts of people all over India right now and is a bigger name than our own PM.
— Ram Subramanian (@VORdotcom) March 1, 2019
In fact, the appreciation soon garnered a monumental status, and #ThankYouImranKhan started trending on Indian twitter, full of gratitude posts for PM.
@ImranKhanPTI Sir.. Respect.
This, as i said before, will etch history.. Will go down as a triumph in the books of humanity.. #ThankYouImranKhan https://t.co/DAOGw5RwVX— Ashish Chowdhry (@AshishChowdhry) February 28, 2019
History will not remember what Indian media is saying, history will remember what actually happened. Great gesture by @ImranKhanPTI to initiate peace, well done Mr. PM. Well done people of Pakistan #PakistanLeadsWithPeace #ThankYouImranKhan @NJLahori
— Fahad Masood (@fahd_masood) February 28, 2019
I thought I would never say something like this. But a Pakistani Prime Minister has united logical people from both sides of the border! Hope we can grow stronger.#ThankYouImranKhan #ThankYouImranKhan
— Amoghavarsha R (@RandomIndianFa1) February 28, 2019
This also included a petition started by Pakistanis to hand over the Nobel Peace Prize to Khan, in an amusing turn of events. The petition garnered up to 25,000 signatures in half a day, while Pakistanis kept showing support for the virtuous idea.
"A politician thinks of the next election, A statesman thinks of the next generation"…James Freeman Clark..#NobelPeacePrizeForImranKhan pic.twitter.com/f3RGcs5yPc
— Andleeb Abbas (@AndleebAbbas) March 1, 2019
https://twitter.com/AmiKaSaud/status/1101315218058240002
Economic development. The antics of Modi made Imran Khan a hero of peace in the eyes of international community.
Read international media reports. #NobelPeacePrizeForImranKhan is trending. All thanks to Modi.
— Aavinash Chaliha (@aavinashchaliha) March 1, 2019
And simultaneously, #GoBackModi gained momentum as Indians starting holding their PM, Narendra Modi, accountable for his pro-war attitude, solely for political gain.
#GoBackModi
Shame…..Why we hate BJP and its leaders.They use the situation only to rise their Vote bank.
That's why #GoBackModi pic.twitter.com/y0uTKrq7vs— Abdul4u (@maam2k) March 1, 2019
We are with the Indian Soldiers who protect the country in every situation ensuring the pride and peace is restored. Not with the Jumlebaaz who gives fake promises every day.#GoBackModi #WelcomeHomeAbhinandan pic.twitter.com/ocZP4YtgMc
— NCP (@NCPspeaks) March 1, 2019
This T-Shirt is white. Indian Media #PakistanLeadsWithPeace #GoBackModi #Abhinandan pic.twitter.com/a2b1htz26K
— Usama Qureshi (@UsamaQureshy) March 1, 2019
Soon after the release of Abhinandan and as an aftereffect of the whole fiasco, Indian celebrities took to Twitter like wildfire to welcome their ‘hero’ and ‘brave heart’, and lauded him for the courage and bravery he displayed away from his homeland.
https://twitter.com/aliaa08/status/1101516681837404162
India unites to welcome the braveheart back to his homeland! With pride in our hearts & a smile on our faces, #WelcomeHomeAbhinandan!
— Anil Kapoor (@AnilKapoor) March 1, 2019
https://twitter.com/RanveerOfficial/status/1101466207276785664
Everyone can learn something or two about real heroism from you. The entire nation is extremely proud of you and your courage! #WelcomebackAbhinanadan
— Parineeti Chopra (@ParineetiChopra) March 1, 2019
We salute your bravery and valour….we applaud your strength in the face of adversity….#WelcomeHomeAbhinandan
— Karan Johar (@karanjohar) March 1, 2019
Everyone awaits your return . Proud of you sir !! Salutes to the brave son of india #WelcomeHomeAbhinandan
— Emraan Hashmi (@emraanhashmi) March 1, 2019
This also left the local general public somewhat confused as to why Abhinandan was being referred to as a hero.
Abhi Nandan after seeing that Indians are calling him a hero despite failing a mission and crashing a 2 million dollar plane. pic.twitter.com/x5um23g1Zk
— R. (@AjeebBaatHay) March 1, 2019
If Abhinandan is a war hero then I’m Miss Universe
— S (@saneschizo_) March 1, 2019
If a mass murderer can be their Prime Minister then a failed pilot can be a war hero as well. Makes sense.
— S (@saneschizo_) March 1, 2019
How to become an Indian Hero
1: Violate Pakistani Airspace
2: realize you are effed up
3: run for your life
4: get groped by a JF17
5: Eject your plane
6: get your arse kicked by a mob
7: get saved by Army
8: slurp your tea, loud and clear
9: go home
10: You are a hero— Shafaat Ali (@iamshafaatali) March 1, 2019
Nevertheless, Khan still shines as the superstar that emerged out of these states of affairs, as evident by the sentiments of people all over the world.
What exactly did he do to make himself a hero except for lose a million dollar plane, hide behind the Pakistani army when locals where kicking the shit out of him and grow mad facial hair.
Imran Khan is the only hero here. With one kind act he defused Modi's war rhetoric. pic.twitter.com/XP7iuSkP6c
— Abhinandennis (@DennisCricket_) March 1, 2019
"The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting." – Sun Tzu
Dr. Manmohan Singh had used this supreme art after 2009 Mumbai, Imran Khan did it after 2019 Batalkot.— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) March 1, 2019
While some still stayed bitter over Khan’s virtuosity.
Glad everyone is now convinced that His Holiness Imran Khan is no Dalai Lama.
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) March 1, 2019
All those who are thanking #ImranKhan for a statesmanly gesture of releasing our PoW are anti-nationals or plain FOOLS
This is reason why we Hindus get screwed over so badly for generations
Our objective is to dismantle terror pads in Pak. We shouldn't stop till that's achieved
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) February 28, 2019
As a final thought, a huge chunk of the public is illuminating how the real victims of these Indo-Pak tensions are Kashmiris, as the LOC keeps getting breached by officials across the border.
https://twitter.com/JaunSnow4/status/1101584859305295873?s=20
Those who are under the illusion that India-Pakistan confrontation is over they are wrong. Modi being Modi, as he has lost his face big, he will do something more stupid soon across the border before the election. Likely, a series of missile strikes. Also, Kashmir will burn more.
— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) March 1, 2019
Just Now:
1. Around 4 Security personnel martyred in the Handwara encounter in Kashmir.
2. Pakistan violated ceasefire along LoC in Mendhar, Balakote & Krishna Ghati sectors.
And Liberals consumed Fevicol in both cases. Thank you Pak PM Imran Khan for this peaceful gesture.
— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) March 1, 2019
And it goes without saying that the situation will take turns as we speak, but fortunately, #SayNoToWar still prevails within the masses.
#GoBackModi politics on our brave soldiers is disgusting. Better don't come back in power, ever!
— Varsha Bhushan (@varsha_bhushan) March 1, 2019
