On Wednesday, Indian Airforce Pilot named Abhinandan Varthaman went "missing in action" after India responded to intrusion by Pakistan Air Force near the Line of Control. Pakistan had also circulated a video showing a man in uniform, blindfolded, wounded and severely bleeding. The Pakistani soldiers can be seen badly beating up the Indian Pilot in their custody.
Soon after the incident, the Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday said that it had summoned Pakistan Acting High commissioner and had “strongly objected” to Islamabad “vulgar display” of the pilot. India said that this was “in violation of all norms of International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Convention." Other videos which can be clearly identified as any attempt to cover up Pakistan's mistake, soon emerged showing him drinking tea with Pakistani officials and telling the camera that he was being well treated.
The Geneva Conventions are set of four international treaties that lay out the standards to be followed by signatories on treating enemies humanely during war time. The conventions are exhaustive. They provide detailed procedures for the treatment of prisoners of wars and of civilians captured by the enemy during combat. Though primarily a document used during war, the signatories are bound by the provisions in peacetime as well. India has made it clear to the Pakistani diplomat that his country is obligated by the Geneva Conventions, to which Islamabad is a signatory to treat a combat prisoner with dignity.
The videos and pictures that claim to be that of the Indian pilot telecast on Pakistani media showed that he had sustained bleeding injuries after a mob surrounded him. As per the clauses of the Geneva Conventions, Pakistan has a duty to give him medical care and protection. Also the International Committee of Red Cross has prohibited a release of photos and videos of a person deemed a combat prisoner. If the videos of Varthaman interrogation which is being circulating on Pakistani media is verified, this could be cited by India as a serious breach of the convention as it puts the pilot in danger.