The morning Indian Air Force (IAF) jets crossed Line of Control (LoC) in a bid to hit ‘terrorist targets’ inside Pakistani airspace, the whole Bollywood fraternity was glorifying the war and the ‘valiant effort’ of their pilots.
Pakistani celebrities however, showed true courage. They remained committed to ‘peace not war’ slogan.
The tide turned when Pakistan Air Force (PAF) pilots shot down two Indian Mig 21 aircraft the next morning, and captured an Indian pilot alive.
The valor of PAF pilots prompted Indian celebrities to change their belligerent tone. Suddenly, they forgot all the calls to war, with Indian media and movie personalities beginning to remind Pakistan about the Geneva Convention and the dangers of war.
The day Indian jets violated Pakistani airspace, Twitter’s top trend remained #Balakot, #SurgicalStrike2.0 and #HOWSHOS in India.
Indian Celebrities Call for Pilot’s Release
After Pakistan’s counter-strike, these pro-war Twitter trends changed to #SayNoToWar, #PeaceNotWar, #BringBackAbhinandan.
Here are some of the Bollywood actors and actresses who have called for Pakistan to ensure the safe return of their pilot:
My prayers with #wingcommanderabhinandan hope he is safe & we see him back on home soil very soon…
— arjunk26 (@arjunk26) February 27, 2019
We are all praying for the safe return of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman #IAF gratitude from the daughter of a retired Indian Airforce officer @fbhutto for choosing humanity first & a way to peace🙏 Dugga Dugga & God bless https://t.co/6ztsyV5Dss
— sushmita sen (@thesushmitasen) February 27, 2019
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
Thoughts with #WingCommanderAbhinandan and his family. Hoping for his early and safe return. #IndianAirForce
— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) February 27, 2019
#BringHimHome #BringBackAbhinandan #Abhinandan
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) February 27, 2019
https://twitter.com/karanjohar/status/1100751775274012673
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
It should be mentioned that Pakistan has assured India that they are treating their pilot according to international norms.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has even offered a safe return of Wing Com Abhinandan ‘if it defuses the tension.’
