New Delhi: Finally, the Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman who was held captive by the Pakistani Army returned home on Friday night from Attari-Wagah border. As the entire nation was eagerly waiting for IAF pilot’s safe return to India, Abhinandan was handed over to senior IAF officials by Pakistan Rangers after a wait for almost a day. Wearing a blue blazer and grey trouser, Abhinandan crossed over India from the Attari-Wagah border at 9:20 PM. The brave pilot looked confident and happy as he was accompanied by an officer of Pakistan Foreign Office and Indian Defence Attache Group Captain Joy Thomas Kurien. Announcing his release, Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor at Attari-Wagah border said that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has been handed over to us. "He will now be taken for a detailed medical checkup because he had to eject from an aircraft. IAF is happy to have him back," he added.

Thousands of people waited for hours at the Attari border to greet the brave IAF pilot. Waiving the Indian flag, these people kept chanting slogans praising his bravado. Initially, Abhinandan was supposed to return during the day. However, sources say that Pakistan changed the time of his release twice before handing him over to Indian officials.

As soon as the first visuals of Abhinandan’s entry into the Indian side of the Attari-Wagah border came, entire nation hailed the moment and congratulated the daredevil IAF pilot for his valour and incomparable contribution to the nation. Social media platforms including Twitter got flooded with admiring messages. Even leaders of several political parties saluted Abhinandan and welcomed him. Here are some top tweets:


























The brave Air Force pilot was held captive by Pakistan army on Wednesday after his MiG-21 Bison crashed in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Several videos of Abhinandan being manhandled by mob in Pakistan went viral on social media. Later on, Pakistan Army took him into custody and gave him the required medical assistance.