World Cup 2019: Pakistan TV ad draws flak for mocking IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 IST
A Pakistani TV advertisement has been released which plays on the captivity of Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman after the Balakot air-strikes in February, just before the two nations go head-to-head in a World Cup match on Sunday in Manchester, England.
Just ahead of the World Cup clash between India and Pakistan on Sunday at Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester, a Jazz TV advertisement for its live coverage of the match has sparked controversy. The advertisement mocks the captivity of Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman in Pakistan.
The advertisement features a man sporting a moustache similar to Varthaman in an Indian cricket team jersey having a cup of tea, which is just like the video released by Pakistan Army after he was captured.
The man refuses to answer every question asked about India’s strategy in the upcoming match, again a callback to the IAF pilot’s answers to Pakistani interrogators when he was asked questions. The Jazz TV advertisement also has the man praise the tea he’s given, much like the IAF pilot.
The brand has since received a lot of backlash on social media, raising questions about the insensitivity of the commercial, and the racial profiling of the Wing Commander.
This is not the first instance where a video has referenced the pilot’s captivity, as in March 2019, a spoof commercial for a tea brand was also found circulating on social media.
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was captured on February 27 by Pakistani armed forces after his MIG-21 Bison crashed in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). He had shot down a Pakistani F-16 jet which had intruded into Indian air space.
The IAF pilot was in the custody of Pakistan’s military till March 1, after which he was released in what Pakistan claimed was a “goodwill gesture”.
Related Topics
Trending News & Articles
Sachin Tendulkar was the pillar of an Indian victory in the Coca-Cola Cup in Sharjah in 1998. Tendulkar’s belligerence won India the championship against a fo...
Recently posted . 163K views . 1 min read
Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav (Marathi: श्री. खाशाबा दादासाहेब जाधव, January 15, 1926 – August 14, 1984) was an Indian athlete. He is best known as a wrestler who...
Recently posted . 8K views . 60 min read
During the examination, it was uncovered that the CWG Organizing Committee had paid a messed up sum for planning and buys. The underlying evaluation for putting tog...
Recently posted . 6K views . 2 min read
Asad Rauf, a previous ICC World class Board umpire from Pakistan, kicked the bucket at 66 years old.
Recently posted . 6K views . 0 min read
More in Sports
Despite cricket’s craze in the country, no one apart from Bhogle has been able to make the cut as a top-notch commentator/analyst.
Recently posted. 978 views . 1 min read
CSK skipper reveals that the comeback was ‘emotional’
Recently posted. 816 views . 0 min read
Here's a list of top five knocks of the current poster boy of Indian cricket, Virat Kohli from the year 2016.
The year 2016 has been a stand...
Recently posted. 848 views . 29 min read
Recently posted . 926 views
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 2K views
Recently posted . 4K views
What's the story?
Afghanistan has been one of the inspirational teams emerging in world cricket during r...
Recently posted. 1K views . 2 min read
Viswanathan Anand is all set to be a part of the Chess Olympiad after 12 years. He will join the Indian team for the tournament that will be held in late September....
Recently posted. 950 views . 1 min read