Islamabad, Mar 4: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said the person who resolved the Kashmir issue would be worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize, days after a resolution was submitted in the country’s Parliament endorsing him for the prestigious award, citing his “efforts to de-escalate” tensions with India.
“I am not worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize. The person worthy of this would be the one who solves the Kashmir dispute according to the wishes of the Kashmiri people and paves the way for peace & human development in the subcontinent,” the premier tweeted.
On March 2, a resolution was submitted in Pakistan’s National Assembly Secretariat stating that Khan’s decision of releasing Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman had de-escalated the hostility between Pakistan and India.
According to the resolution, Khan “acted responsibly” in the current tension and “deserves the Nobel Peace Prize”.
After the Pulwama attack, the Indian Air Force carried out strike in Balakot, hitting what it said was a JeM training camp, deep inside Pakistan on February 26. The next day, Pakistan retaliated with a large air formation, comprising 24 fighter jets.
Varthaman, who was in one of the eight MiG-21s that took on the Pakistan Air Force jets, was shot down and captured by Pakistan.
Khan during a joint session of Parliament on February 28 announced to release the IAF pilot as a “gesture of peace” and the “first step” to open negotiations with India.Varthaman was released at the Wagah border on Friday.
