Much ‘Abhinandan’ about nothing: How the Pakistanis got it wrong. Again!

The next time you congratulate someone in Hindi, be sure of what you say because this election season has witnessed much ado about Abhinandan — and the trend has suddenly crossed the border. The IAF air-strike in Balakot has definitely been a shot in the arm for the BJP. Whether the BJP was trying to ride on the IAF's success was also a contentious election issue.

Now that everything is over, can the dust please settle?

No.

A Pakistani television channel, in a rush to read (between) the lines of what Modi was saying, following his landslide victory, deciphered that he was actually referring to Abhinandan Varthaman — the IAF pilot who was captured by Pakistani forces and finally returned to India. This happened just before the elections.

Before the news channel could again pitch for a Nobel peace prize for Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, Twitter taught it a lesson or two — on Hindi.

Dear @ARYNEWSOFFICIAL, Hindi word 'Abhinandan' means congratulations or to greet. So 'Abhinandan' always won't mean Wing Commander Abhinandan. If nothing else, look at the context of Modi's speech. Sensationalise karne k liyay bhi aqal chaiye.. ????????‍♀️pic.twitter.com/pgwcpOucla

— Naila Inayat नायला इनायत (@nailainayat) May 25, 2019

So who are Manavi, Asha and Aakanksha and what's their story?

— Deepika ???? (@ahlade) May 25, 2019

hey @ARYNEWSOFFICIAL #abhinandan in hindi means greetings. Change the person who manages your India desk. #Idiots

— Siddharth Tiwari (@CybertronSid) May 24, 2019

Abhinandan was released on March 1. Following departmental norms, he has been tranferred out of his earlier Srinagar airforce facility. A lot happened after that. The country went to the polls. Even in Pakistan, a lot happened. It managed to get an IMF bailout for the nth number of time.

But it seems, it could not move on.

Moving on is not easy. Specially when you're Pakistan.

Also Read: 5 things Rahul Gandhi can do now