IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. (Twitter/ANI)
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday met Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman at a hospital in Delhi. The Indian Air Force pilot is understood to have explained Sitharaman the details about his nearly 60-hour stay in Pakistan, PTI reported.
After his return from Pakistan via the Attari-Wagah border late Friday night, the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot underwent a series of medical tests as part of a “cooling down” process, PTI quoted officials as saying.
IAF Pilot Abhinandan was handed over to India on Friday night after two days of captivity in Pakistan, a move widely seen as a de-escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan.
See | IAF Wing commander Abhinandan returns; first photos
Abhinandan, dressed in a suit, walked across the Zero Line at the Attari-Wagah border at 9.20 pm, about four hours later he was reportedly scheduled to return. He was accompanied by Group Captain J T Kurien, Air Advisor in the Indian High Commission, and Fareeha Bugti, Director (India) in the Pakistan Foreign Office.
Watch | IAF Wing commander Abhinandan returns to India
“It is good to be back in my country,” was the first reaction of IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman as he set his foot back on Indian soil.
Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik created a sand sculpture of IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman at the beach in Puri (PTI photo)
Exemplary bravery and commitment to the nation displayed by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman is a source of inspiration for the youth, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Saturday.
The safe return of the brave pilot is a matter of happiness and relief for the country, the Union Minister said on the sidelines of an event in New Delhi, news agency PTI reported.
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was brought to Delhi after Pakistan released him through the Attari-Wagah border late Friday night, underwent a series of medical tests as part of a "cooling down" process, officials said.
Early Saturday morning, Varthaman met his immediate family members as well as several top officials of the Indian Air Force, they said, news agency PTI reported.
Once, the health check-up phase is over, debriefing sessions will be arranged for him, the officials said.
A day after Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman returned to India, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday met him at a hospital in Delhi. The Indian Air Force pilot is understood to have explained Sitharaman the details about his nearly 60-hour stay in Pakistan, PTI reported. READ MORE
A baby born on Friday evening, when IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was about to be released by Pakistan, was named after him by a family in Rajasthan’s Alwar district.
“My daughter-in-law delivered baby boy last evening and we named him Abhinandan in honour of the IAF pilot. We are proud of the pilot and therefore we named him (the baby) Abhinandan,” Janesh Bhutani, grandfather of the chid, told reporters. READ MORE
Welcoming safe return of IAF Pilot Abhinandan from Pakistan custody, BSP Chief Mayawati said, " Hearty welcome safe return of IAF pilot Abhinandan from Pak custody. Big relief and ease of tension is natural but sensing a sea change in security scenario around, India must have a long, lasting & credible policy for its security-honour besides a good policy to deal with neighbours."
One military episode cannot, by itself, decisively change the trajectory of one of modern history’s longest-running conflicts. But, as both sides — India and Pakistan — signal temporary de-escalation, it might be worth revisiting the historical and psychological dynamics that constitute the present moment, writes Pratap Bhanu Mehta
Addressing a meet at Construction Technology India in Delhi, Prime Minister Modi said, " The world will notice whatever India does."
Referring to IAF Pilot's bravery, Modi said, " India has the ability to change the meaning of words. Abhinandan was till now ' Congratulations' in English, now the meaning will change."
Cartoon by EP Unny
In his first reaction on IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the Wing Commander back home. “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!” he wrote on Twitter. President Ram Nath Kovind also took to Twitter to welcome the pilot back. “India is proud of your courage and sense of duty, and above all your dignity. Wishing you and our entire Air Force every success in the future,” he wrote on Twitter. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said Abhinandan’s “dignity, poise and bravery,” made the country proud. Read More
Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman has landed in Delhi. A group of people gave a rousing welcome to him at Palam airport. He would be now taken to a medical facility for examination as per procedure. He will later undergo debriefing which will include his physiological as well as a physical check-up in the presence of officials from the military and Intelligence agencies.
A man watches a statement of Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman on his mobile phone. (Source: Reuters)
Abhinandan was handed over to Indian officials at the Wagah border on Friday. He walked across the Zero Line at 9.20 pm, about four hours later that he was reportedly scheduled to return. According to a report in news agency PTI, the IAF pilot’s return was delayed as he was asked to record a statement on camera by Pakistani authorities before he was allowed to cross the border. It was not clear whether he was made to record the video under duress. The video also had several jump cuts indicating that it had been edited heavily. In the video, the Pilot said that he was “saved” by the Pakistani Army when the locals tried to attack him. “People chased me, their emotions were running high. Read More