IAF hero Abhinandan Varthaman returns to India after daylong wait; nation overwhelmed
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was held captive by Pakistan Army since past two days has finally returned back to India through the Attari-Wagah border on Friday night. Entire nation welcomed the brave IAF pilot who looked confident and happy while entering the Indian border.
ABP News Bureau
Last Updated:
01 Mar 2019 11:36 PM
Abhinandan Varthaman is on his way to Delhi. Reportedly, he will reach the Palam airport in the national capital in some time.
Abhinandan Varthaman took as many as 132 steps from Wagah side of the border to enter into India's Attari side. ABP News team counted these steps taken by our brave IAF pilot.
Former UP Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav expressed joy over safe return of IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. Howwever, Yadav expressed concern over the death of 4 security personnel in Kupwara encounter. “Wing Cmmdr. Abhinandan’s family will feel great joy at being reunited with him. Sadly 4 more service families have been robbed of that joy today. Everyday the number of martyrs rises,” he tweeted. He alleged that the Modi government has failed in Jammu & Kasmir. “This Govt. has proven incapable of stabilising Kashmir and preventing further loss of life,” he added.
Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar Shiv Dular Singh Dhillon, while speaking to the media, said that IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman crossed the Wagah-Attari border ten minutes back. “We didn’t ask the Pakistani authorities the reason for the delay,” he added.
Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman lauds IAF wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman. “The entire nation appreciates your valour and grit. You held your calm in the face of adversity. You are an inspiration to our youth,” she said.
Abhinandan Varthaman will now undergo a medical check up to analyse his fitness level and whether Pakistanhi army has not bugged him in any way.
Social media platform including Facebook and Twitter are flooded with congratulatory messages after IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman arrived in India through the Attari-Wagah border.
Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman walks into India after nearly 60 hours in Pakistan, after being captured
Wing Commander Abhinandan is undergoing medical tests at a Pakistani army camp at Batapur, near Wagah border. He will then be taken to Wagah: Sources
PM Modi slams opposition leaders:
Indian High Commission officials reach Wagah for release of Wing Commander Abhinandan; process is apparently held up because of procedural delays
Air Vice-Marshals Sreekumar Prabhakaran and RGK Kapoor to receive Wing Commander Abhinandan
Pakistan to hand over IAF hero Abhinandan to India at 8 pm, Pakistani media reports
Latest visual from Wagah border (BELOW): From morning till dusk, people wait eagerly for their hero Abhinandan's homecoming
Latest visual from Wagah border (BELOW): From morning till dusk, people wait eagerly for their hero Abhinandan's homecoming
3 SECURITY PERSONNEL KILLED IN KUPWARA; READ: Three security personnel were killed on Friday in an encounter with militants in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Babagund area of Kupwara following information about presence of militants there, the officials said. During the searches, the militants opened fire on the security forces, who retaliated. There was lull in firing several times during the day but militants would resume firing as soon as the security forces advanced towards the house where the ultras were hiding, the officials said. Three security force personnel have been killed in the exchange of fire, they said adding the operation was on when reports last came in. Four persons were also injured in clashes between a group of youngsters and security personnel near the encounter site, the officials said. (PTI)
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal tweets welcome message for IAF hero Abhinandan:
As IAF hero Abhinandan is about to reach India, Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee tweets a welcome message
Spiritual leader Devaki Nandan Thakur holds procession to celebrate homecoming of IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan
Spiritual leader Devaki Nandan Thakur holds procession to celebrate homecoming of IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan
FLASH - #Pakistan hands over wing commander Abhinandan to Indian officials at Wagah border. Catch our LIVE Coverage here: https://t.co/DklVA2kRqn #WelcomeHomeAbhinandan pic.twitter.com/7yPySUD5G3— ABP News (@abpnewstv) March 1, 2019
Beating Retreat ceremony over at Pakistan's side.
IAF to address media after Wing Commander Abhinandan's return
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman is undergoing medical check up at Wagah Border, Dawn reports.
Celebrations on Indian side as nation awaits return of its hero. Picture below.
Celebrations on Indian side as nation awaits return of its hero. Picture below.
Pakistan most likely to return Wing Commander Abhinandan after Beating Retreat ceremony. Watch:
Beating Retreat ceremony begins at Wagah Border in Pakistan
Pakistan likely to return Wing Commander Abhinandan after Beating Retreat ceremony at Wagah Border on its side.
Pakistan has not cancelled Beating Retreat ceremony
Air Vice Marshall RGK Kapoor to receive Wing Commander Abhinandan at Attari Border
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman about to reach Wagah border under heavy security by Pakistani forces. (Visuals/Ary)
The Islamabad High Court on Friday dismissed a Pakistani citizen's plea to stop the imminent release of the captured Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinanadan Varthaman.
Pakistan has turned down a request by India to send back Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman by aerial route and not through the Attari-Wagah land border, official sources said Friday.
They said hours after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the decision to release Varthaman, India conveyed to Islamabad that he be sent back via the aerial route.
However, late in the night, Pakistan conveyed to India that the pilot will be returned through the Attari-Wagah border and India's request could not be heeded to, the sources said.
They said hours after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the decision to release Varthaman, India conveyed to Islamabad that he be sent back via the aerial route.
However, late in the night, Pakistan conveyed to India that the pilot will be returned through the Attari-Wagah border and India's request could not be heeded to, the sources said.
Senior IAF officers reach Wagah Border for Wing Commander Abhinandan's return
PM Narendra Modi at a rally in Kanyakumari: 26/11 happened, India expected action against terrorists but nothing happened. When Uri and Pulwama happened, you saw what our brave soldiers did. I salute those who are serving the nation.
This is a new India, an India that will return the damage done by terrorists with interest, says PM.
Wing Commander Abhinandan likely to reach between 4 pm to 6 pm; has not reached Lahore from Islamabad yet: sources
Punjab CM: Would love to go (to receive Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman) but there's laid out protocol whenever anybody comes back like happened to Prisoners of war in '65 & '71, they had to first go for medical & then be debriefed. I think same process will be followed here
In an order to ensure law and order situation as Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman is set to return to India via Wagah Border, The common man has been kept from attending beating Retreat ceremony today
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had said that he did not attend Council of Foreign Ministers as a matter of principle for having extended invitation as a Guest of Honour to Sushma Swaraj. Pakistan did not attend OIC session due to the organisation's failure to rescind invitation to Indian FM Swaraj, Shah Mehmood Qureshi announces in joint session of Parliament
EAM Sushma Swaraj at OIC conclave:Terrorism in each case is driven by distortion of religion. Fight against terror is not a confrontation against any religion. Just as Islam means peace, none of the 99 names of Allah mean violence.Similarly every religion stands for peace
EAM Sushma Swaraj addresses at OIC conclave as the Guest of Honour. Pakistani chair remains empty at OIC as Guest of Honour Sushma Swaraj gave her speech.
IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan's father reaches Wagah Border to receive his son.
Wing Commander Abhinandan to visit Amritsar Airbase first and then will go to Delhi.
EAM Sushma Swaraj addresses the OIC conclave as the Guest of Honour.
Wing Commander Vardhaman handed over to Indian High Commission.
Wing Commander Abhinandan leaves from Islamabad for Lahore. He is set to come to India after crossing Wagah Border in Punjab.
BJP President Amit Shah Friday slammed Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for not condemning the Pulwama terror attack and said how could India trust him. Speaking at a media Conclave, Shah said the Modi government has been able to create fear in the minds of those behind terrorism with its action against Pakistan-based terrorists.
I believe the track record of our government has been the best in dealing with terror since Independence. Maximum number of terrorists have been eliminated under BJP government led by Modi he said. Shah questioned the Pakistan Prime Minister's silence on the Pulwama attack.
I believe the track record of our government has been the best in dealing with terror since Independence. Maximum number of terrorists have been eliminated under BJP government led by Modi he said. Shah questioned the Pakistan Prime Minister's silence on the Pulwama attack.
Creating situation for return of pilot Abhinandan in such a short span of time is our diplomatic victory: BJP Chief Shah
People gather at Wagah border with drums and garlands to welcome IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman back to India.
Background
New Delhi: Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was held captive by Pakistan Army since past two days has finally returned back to India through the Attari-Wagah border on Friday night. Entire nation welcomed the brave IAF pilot who looked confident and happy while entering the Indian border. The daredevil IAF pilot was handed over to the Indian officials at the Attari border from where he entered into the country. A delegation of IAF team received the Wing Commander captured by Pakistan during an aerial combat, at the Wagah border, official sources said.
Varthaman's MiG 21 was shot and he bailed out after bringing down one Pakistani F-16 fighter during a dogfight to repel a Pakistani attack on Indian military installations on Wednesday morning. He has been in Pakistan's custody since then.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced in Parliament on Thursday that Varthaman would be released on Friday as a "peace gesture".
Tensions between the two countries escalated after Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot deep inside Pakistan early Tuesday. It came 12 days after the JeM claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir, killing 40 soldiers.
Punjab CM requests PM to receive IAF soldier at Wagah:
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has offered to receive Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman at the Attari border in Amritsar district when the IAF pilot arrives on Friday after being released by Pakistan.
The Congress leader tweeted his request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after Pakistan PM Imran Khan's announcement that the IAF pilot would be released on March 1.
"Dear @narendramodi ji, I'm touring the border areas of Punjab & I'm presently in Amritsar. Came to know that @pid_gov has decided to release #AbhinandanVartaman from Wagha. It will be a honour for me to go and receive him, as he and his father are alumnus of the NDA as I am," Singh wrote.
- - - - - - - - - Advertisement - - - - - - - - -