Abhinandan Return LIVE: Good to Be Back, Says IAF Wing Commander Upon Return Home From Pak; Undergoes Medical Tests

Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman an inspiration for 130 crore Indians. His tweet read, “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!”

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!

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 1, 2019

Union home minister Rajnath Singh welcomes IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman back to India.

Welcome Home! The entire Nation is proud of Wing Commander Abhinandan.

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) March 1, 2019

BJP president Amit Shah says entire nation is proud for the courage shown by IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. “May you continue to serve the nation and IAF with unparalleled passion and dedication. Best wishes for your bright future,” he added.

Dear Wing Commander Abhinandan, entire nation is proud of your courage and valour.

India is glad to have you back.

May you continue to serve the nation and IAF with unparalleled passion and dedication. Best wishes for your bright future.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 1, 2019

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.

Proud of you Wing Commander #AbhinandanVarthaman. The entire nation appreciates your valour and grit. You held your calm in the face of adversity. You are an inspiration to our youth. Salute. Vande Mataram.

— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) March 1, 2019

Congress president Rahul Gandhi welcomes IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman back to India. 

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

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 1, 2019

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.

Pakistan's Foreign Office on Friday announced the returning of IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman to India and described him as a ‘prisoner of war’ (POW). In a statement issued minutes after the pilot crossed over to India from the Wagah-Attari border, the FO said, "While in captivity, he was treated with dignity and in line with international law."

Cavalcade carrying IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman leaves for Amritsar from Wagah-Attari border. 

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's first tweet after IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman's release. 

DeleteEdi

Jai Hind.

— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) March 1, 2019

RGK Kapoor added, "Varthaman will be taken from here for a detailed medical examination because he had to eject the plane. IAF is happy to have him back."

Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor is addressing the media following the wing commander's return to India. "We are happy that Wing Commander Abhinandan has been handed over to us. The entire procedure was carried out according to Air Force operatives," he said. 

IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was accompanied by IAF Group Captain Joy Thomas Kurien, Defence Attache to Indian High Commission in Pakistan, during the time of his release. 

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman returns to India | IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman crosses over to India, received by BSF. 

Documents are being exchanged between India and Pakistan, following which IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman will be handed over to the Indian side of the border. 

Visuals show IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman being handed over to India. Pak Rangers accompany him to the border gates.  

IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman is now being handed over to Indian officials after Pakistan changed the release timings twice. 

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav expressed joy over IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s release but lamented 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. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister 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.

UPDATE | Last-minute paperwork at the Wagah-Attari border is delaying IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s return to India. Local officials now say the wing commander may be returned to India at 9pm.

Amritsar municipal corporation deputy mayor Raman Bakshi, who reached at the Wagah border along with his supporters said, "Today we are full of enthusiasm as our hero is returning." He was also carrying Indian flags, sweet boxes and garlands.  Neha, a young tourist from Delhi, said, "I feel blessed that today I am going to have a glimpse of a real life hero who without caring for his life showed such valor." 

Patriotic fervour prevailed at the border throughout Friday with residents singing songs, beating drums and carrying tricolour. They sang patriotic songs and raised slogans like ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’. A youth was seen carrying a huge garland, while an elderly man was seen beating 'dhol'. "If permitted, I want to welcome the Wing Commander with this garland," said the youth carrying garland. Many were also seen with tattoos of Indian flags on their faces.

A large number of people from different walks of life thronged the Attari border on Friday to witness the return of their ‘hero’ Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. Excited citizens carrying tricolor, raising patriotic slogans and dancing to 'dhol' beats waited with bated breath to catch a glimpse of the IAF pilot.     

Rahul Gandhi welcomes Varthaman back to India |  Congress president Rahul Gandhi has welcomed IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman back to the country, reports PTI.

LS Speaker hail’s India’s efforts | Hailing India's efforts in bringing back Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman from Pakistan, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Friday said the brave soldiers of India made the neighbouring country bow under pressure.

Retired Group Captain Tarun K Singha, who has known the Varthaman family for decades, said that the image of a calm, composed Abhinandan that many saw after his capture by the Pakistani Army just shows the genes that the wing commander inherited from his mother, Dr Shobha Varthaman (in pic), who has worked in many conflict zones all through her career as a doctor with Medicine Sans Frontiers (Doctors Without Borders).

VK Singh says Pakistan has not done any favour | Union minister of state for external affairs General VK Singh has said that it should not be perceived that Pakistan did a favour to India by returning IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. “It must be understood that #Pakistan has not done us a favor by returning #WingCommanderAbhinandan. Under the #GenevaConvention, a serving soldier captured during conflict has to be returned (sic),” he said. Singh added that it should not be forgotten that after 1971, India released over 90,000 PoWs from Pakistan.

According to sources, the initial round of debriefing is over and a medical checkup is underway. The wing commander had been returned to India a short while ago.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday welcomed the return of IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. In a tweet, she said, “Welcome home #AbhinandanVarthaman Welcome home sweet home” (sic).

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has welcomed the return of Wing Commander Abhinandan. “I salute your bravery and the courage of your family. India is proud of you,” said Kejriwal.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has welcomed the return of Wing Commander Abhinandan. “I salute your bravery and the courage of your family. India is proud of you,” said Kejriwal.

Air Vice Marshal to address media | Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor is likely to address a press briefing soon at the Attari border. Arrangements are being made for the media briefing.