IAF hero Abhinandan Varthaman returns to India after daylong wait; nation overwhelmed

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.

23:02 PM (IST)  •  01 Mar 2019

Abhinandan Varthaman is on his way to Delhi. Reportedly, he will reach the Palam airport in the national capital in some time.

22:24 PM (IST)  •  01 Mar 2019

🇮🇳 Wing Cdr. Abhinandan, your dignity, poise and bravery made us all proud. Welcome back and much love. 🇮🇳

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 1, 2019

22:17 PM (IST)  •  01 Mar 2019

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.

22:10 PM (IST)  •  01 Mar 2019

🇮🇳 Wing Cdr. Abhinandan, your dignity, poise and bravery made us all proud. Welcome back and much love. 🇮🇳

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 1, 2019

22:09 PM (IST)  •  01 Mar 2019

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.