Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he is proud of the IAF pilot returning from India. "Welcome Home Wing Commander Abhinandan! The nation is proud of your exemplary courage. Our armed forces are an inspiration for 130 crore Indians. Vande Mataram!(sic), he said on Twitter.
Watch Video: Sequence of Events Leading to Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman's Return
"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," Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor said.
IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was accompanied by IAF Group Captain Joy Thomas Kurien, Defence Attache to Indian High Commission in Pakistan.
IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, who has returned from India, will be taken for medical check-up. Air Vice Marshal said the medical check-up is necessitated as the Wing Commander had to eject himself from a crashed flight on Wednesday, which would have severely stressed his body.
BSF has handed over the IAF pilot to the paramilitary forces, who will in turn hand him over to the Air Force. The Wing Commander would subsequently be flown to Delhi.
IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman has returned from Pakistan via the Wagah-Attari border. He has been received by officials of the BSF.
According to reports, the process of handing over the IAF pilot at the Wagah-Attari border will begin shortly. After being handed over, the Wing Commander would be attended by a medical team, before he flies to Delhi.
The timing of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman's return to India has been changed twice by Pakistan. According to news agency ANI, the IAF pilot would be handed over at 9pm.
Ambiguity prevails over the timing of IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman's return to India. Reports claim that the IAF pilot could be handed over to the Indian authorities anytime soon.
IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, who is returning from Pakistan, will be handed over to the Indian authorities shortly at the Wagah-Attari border, reports said. He would be subsequently flown to Delhi.
Even as Pakistan has gestured "peace" by sending back the captured IAF pilot within two days of the aerial engagement, four CRPF personnel were killed in an encounter in Jammu & Kashmir's Kupwara. Read full report.
"Every Indian is proud that the brave wing commander Abhinandan belongs to Tamil Nadu.” The events of the past two days, an apparent reference to IAF’s air strikes and the IAF shooting down a Pakistan jet, have demonstrated yet again the strengths of the country’s armed forces, Modi said.
Defence forces on the Line of Control (LoC) are alert despite the return on IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman from Pakistan, reports citing sources said.
Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor is expected to issue a statement shortly on the return of IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman from Pakistan.
Excitement levels are high at Attari-Wagah border. The sounds of dhols are getting louder as people in India await the return of IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman is on his way to Wagah-Attari border. Two Air Vice Marshals are at Wagah-Attari border to receive the IAF pilot.
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has reached Lahore from where he will be brought at Wagah border shortly.
Addressing a rally in Kanyakumari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said every Indian is proud that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman hails from Tamil Nadu.
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman will cross over from the Wagah border shortly. Stay here for instant updates.
The Beating the Retreat ceremony at Attari-Wagah Border has been cancelled for today following the return on Indian Air Force will Wing Commander from Pakistan. The news has been confirmed by Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar Shiv Dular Singh Dhillon.
New Delhi, March 1: Pakistan will release Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman of the Indian Air Force (IAF), who was captured when his MiG-21 went down in Pakistan-occupied territory. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday announced in the National Assembly that the captured IAF pilot will be freed as a 'peace gesture'. Abhinandan Varthaman will be returning to India between mid-noon and 1 pm. Catch live news updates on Abhinandan Varthaman's homecoming.
Pakistan is expected to hand over Wing Commander Varthaman, son of a decorated IAF veteran, to the Indian high commission. He is likely to cross over from the Wagah border. It is not clear who will be at the Wagah border to welcome the IAF pilot on his arrival from Pakistan. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has offered to receive Wing Commander Varthaman at the border.
Wing Commander Varthaman's MiG-21 crashed in Pakistan-occupied territory on Wednesday during an Indian Air Force operation to thwart Pakistani planes intruding into Indian airspace. He downed an F-16 fighter jet of Pakistan Air Force by firing an R-73 air-to-air missile before his fighter jet was hit. He was then captured by Pakistan. After Imran Khan's Pitch For Talks, India Hands Over Dossier to Pakistan With Details of JeM Role in Pulwama Attack.
On Wednesday, Pakistan carried out a retaliatory aerial raid unsuccessfully targeting Indian defence facilities in Jammu and Kashmir, a day after the IAF struck a terrorist training camp in Pakistan. The air strike was carried out 12 days after a suicide bomber killed more than 40 Central Reserve Police Force troopers. Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed admitted to carrying out the attack.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 01, 2019 08:40 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).