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- Pakistan has taken Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman under custody after the MIG-21 aircraft crashed in Pakistan controlled territory.However, India has called for his immediate return and said that Pakistan has violated Geneva convention by displaying photographs and videos of him being interrogated.
- The third Geneva Convention (1949) provides (a) protection for Prisoners of War (PoWs) (b) defines the rights of PoWs and (c)lays down rules on how they are to be treated and released.
- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) describes “PoWs (as) usually members of the armed forces of one of the parties to a conflict who fall into the hands of the adverse party.”
- ICRC has been mandated under the Geneva Conventions to ensure the application of international humanitarian law.It visits prisoners, both military and civilian.
- PoWs are protected against violence, intimidation, insults, and guaranteed minimum conditions of accommodation, food, clothing, hygiene and medical care.
- The Geneva Convention makes it incumbent upon Pakistan to return the IAF officer unharmed. But there is no timeframe for Pakistan to return the officer.
