IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman to be Handed Over to India by Pakistan Shortly

Amritsar, March 1: Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman will be handed over to India by Pakistan at the Attari-Wagah Border shortly. The IAF pilot's return comes two days after he was taken into custody by Pakistan Army following the crash of his MiG-21 Bison aircraft that shot down a Pakistani F-16 while it tried to violate Indian airspace. Wing Commander Varthaman will be received by the IAF team stationed at the border. His parents and cheering Indian nationals were also present at the Attari border even as people were moved away from the main ceremony area as the Beating Retreat ceremony was cancelled for today. IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman's Return From Pakistan Live News Updates.

After undergoing a medical check-up, it is being reported that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman will be taken from the Attari Border to Delhi where he will go through a debriefing session.

WC Abhinandan Varthaman was taken into custody on February 27, a day after the IAF carried out a strike at Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camps in Pakistan's Balakot. On Feb 27, PAF's f-16 jets tried to enter into the Indian airspace following which the IAF's Mig-21, Sukhoi 30 MKI and Mirage 2000 fighters planes were pressed into combat operation to chase away the Pakistani jets. IAF Pilot Abhinandan Shot Down Pak F-16 Before His MiG-21 Bison Was Hit.

In this operation, MiG-21 Bison pilot WC Abhinandan Varthaman shot down one Pakistani F-16, following which India lost the MiG-21 aircraft. WC Abhinandan's parachute landed on the other side of the border and the IAF pilot was taken into custody by Pakistani Army. The Pakistani Army released photos and videos by the Indian pilot, thereby violating the Geneva Convention that restricts countries from putting out pictures and videos of prisoners of war. IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman's Parents Get Standing Ovation on Flight to Delhi Ahead of Indian Pilot's Return From Pakistan; Watch Video.

On February 28, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that they have decided to release WC Abhinandan Varthaman on March 1 as a "peace gesture". When asked whether it was a "peace gesture", the Indian Air Force during a press conference on Thursday said that Pakistan was bound to return the Indian pilot as per the provisions of the Geneva Convention.

India's strike on JeM camps in Pakistan had come days after the Pulwama terror attack in which at least 40 CRPF jawans were martyred.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 01, 2019 09:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).