Pakistan Releases Wing Commander Abhinandan as 'Peace Gesture'

Pakistani PM Imran Khan announced in parliament on February 28, 2019 that Wing Commander Abhinandan would be released as a 'peace gesture.' He crossed back to India at the Wagah border on March 1, 2019 to a hero's welcome. The crisis de-escalated, but both sides remained at high alert. The episode highlighted both the escalation risks and the importance of back-channel communication.