Bring Abhinandan back first: Netizens and netas blast BJP for response to security crisis

Have some shame," wrote one Twitter commenter below an announcement from the BJP, posted with a column of links, of a forthcoming programme featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi: #MeraBoothSabseMazboot.

The Twitter user who chastised India's ruling party followed up his rebuke with a question: "Is this the time?"

Given the worrying state of India's ties with Pakistan -- and the sobering knowledge that an Indian pilot is in Islamabad's custody -- the commenter's sentiments were widely shared.

"Bring Abhinandan ji back first," said another man, referring to the Indian Air Force wing commander whose capture was announced yesterday by Asif Ghafoor, a spokesperson for Pakistan's armed forces. Ghafoor is the same man who used a reporter's words this week to say -- of India -- that Pakistan would "shut these monkeys down".