Abhinandan Return LIVE: Air Force to Receive Wing Commander at Wagah Border, Family on Way to Amritsar

India’s neighbour in the East, China has also condemned the attack and maintained that the country is friends with both countries. However, China has appeared non-committal about its stand on  US, UK and France’s proposal in the UN Security Council to designate Pakistan-based terror group JeM's chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday said he had "good conversations" with Indian and Pakistani leaders and was hopeful that the rising tension will come down between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Global Reactions to Standoff | The aerial dog fight between India and Pakistan had shifted global attention to the Indian subcontinent with both international media and the foreign governments taking due note of the incident. Several world leaders in official statements have urged both countries to de-escalate the situation.

Crowds start to gather at the Wagah Border waiting for the release of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman

Abhinandan Varthaman's father, S Varthaman, was a consultant for the Mani Ratnam-directed Tamil film 'Kaatru Veliyidai'. The movie has a striking similarity with Abhinandan's real life. In the movie, the hero played the role of an Indian Air Force officer and lands in Pakistan after his jet was shot down. He was later reunited with his family in the film.

Family of Aces | Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman comes from a family which has served the country for generations. His father S Varthaman, recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, was an Air Marshall with the Indian Air Force and an ace pilot himself. His grandfather, Simhakutty, had served the nation during World War II in the Air Force.

Security tightened at the Wagah border to control the increasing number of people gathering there to welcome IAF pilot Abhinandan.

YouTube Takes Down IAF Pilot's Vulgar Videos | On Government of India's request, YouTube removed humiliating videos of Wing Commander Abhinandan that circulated since his capture by Pakistan. It has removed 11 such videos. 

After Pakistan released a video of Wing Commander Abhinandan, the general chatter turned emotional in India. Former armymen and spy chiefs said the nation asked for the pilot to be saved and felt there should be no war.

Following the release of the IAF pilots video by Pakistan, Twitter was buzzing with #BringBackAbhinandan and #AbhinandOurHero. 24 hours later, the number of people moved by these hashtags had only increased. The citizens of Pakistan have also urged its Army to treat the pilot well. 

Swinging Public Opinion | Public Pakistan on Wednesday had released a 39-second video of the captured IAF pilot sipping tea. Abhinandan, in the video, said he was being treated well and that he was "quite impressed" by the Pakistani treatment. Certain social media were also stormed by other videos of his capture that showed Wing Commander being beaten after the crash-landing.

The Wagah-Attari crossing was cleared early today to prepare for IAF pilot Abhinandan's return

Sources in the government have told News18, that a team of Indian Air Force officials will be present at the Wagah border to receive Wing Commander Abhinandan. Meanwhile, Punjab chief minister Capt. Amarinder Singh has also offered to receive the Wing Commander.

No Details of Release Yet | The details of the Wing Commander's release today have not yet been shared with the Indian government. The Border Security Force, which is expected to stand guard during the pilot’s arrival, has not been told the “exact time and sequence” of the release, reported news agency IANS. Abhinandan's parents, however, are expected to be present at Amritsar to welcome him.

Tensions rose between the two countries after the Indian government took "pre-emptive action" by bombing terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot deep inside Pakistan early Tuesday. This strike came 12 days after the JeM claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama, Kashmir, killing 40 soldiers. 

A Gesture of Peace | Pakistan offered India an olive branch on Thursday by announcing the releasing Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman from Pakistani custody. Pakistani PM Imran Khan’s Thursday announcement in the country's Parliament came as a surprise amid scaling tension between the two countries.

The Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was taken into Pakistani custody after he crash-landed in neighbouring territory following an aerial dog fight, is expected to return to India on today via the Wagah Border.