Attari (Punjab): Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, captured by Pakistanis two days ago after his MiG-21 crashed in Pakistani territory, returned to India on Friday night.
Dressed in a blue coat, grey trousers and white shirt, he was received by senior Border Security Force officers at 9.21 pm at Zero Line that marks the India-Pakistan land border.
While one BSF officer shook his hand, another put his arm around the pilot to escort him back into India.
“I am happy to be back home,” Abhinandan said in his first reaction after stepping into India, according to Amritsar Deputy Commissioner, Shivdular Singh Dhillon, who received the IAF pilot along with senior IAF and Border Security Force (BSF) officers.
Abhinandan was accompanied from Pakistan side by Group Captain JD Kurian. He was surrounded by armed troopers of the Pakistan Rangers up to the border gate.
The Wing Commander was in Pakistani captivity for over 60 hours before he walked back home through the Zero Line at the Wagah-Attari joint check-post and received by senior IAF and security officers.
Pakistani authorities kept delaying his actual return to India through the day on Friday for unexplained reasons.
He was escorted from the Attari joint check post (JCP) complex under tight security cover to Amritsar airport.
Air Vice Marshall RGK Kapoor told the media that the Wing Commander was “handed to us as per standard operating procedure of the Indian Air Force”.
“He will now be taken for a detailed medical check-up. The check-up is mandated particularly because the officer has had to eject from an aeroplane which would have put his entire body under great stress,” Kapoor said.
“IAF is happy to have Abhinandan back,” the Air Vice Marshal said.
Earlier, Abhinandan was formally handed over to officials of the Indian High Commission at Wagah (in Pakistan) led by Group Captain JD Kurian.
He was captured in Pakistan on Wednesday (Feb 27) after his MIG-21 Bison fighter jet was shot down during an aerial dogfight near the Line of Control (LoC) in which he succeeded in bring down a Pakistani F16 fighter jet.
Meanwhile, commenting on Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthamans safe return to India from Pakistans custody, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said the nation was proud of the brave officer.
“Proud of you 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. Salute. Vande Mataram,” Sitharaman tweeted.