NEW DELHI – Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman finally returnedhome Friday night from his nearly three-day captivity in Pakistan, a majorstep towards defusing a near-war situation, PTI has reported.
Hoping to give a hero’s welcome to Wing Commander Varthaman, thousands ofIndians gathered on the border carrying the tricolour and garlands sincemorning. But as the day wore on and night fell there was no sign of thepilot, who was captured on February 27 by Pakistan following a dogfightbetween the two air forces in which his MIG-21 was shot down.
He finally emerged at 9.10 p.m(IST) at the Wagah checkpost on the Pakistaniside, accompanied by Pakistani rangers, the Indian air attache posted inthe High Commission in Islamabad. He was wearing a civilian clothes — adark jacket and khakhi trousers, walking proudly toward the gates thatseparated his captors’ country from his homeland.
Amritsar’s Deputy Commissioner Shiv Dular Singh Dhillon told reporters thatthe fighter pilot was happy to be back in his country.
Asked what Abhinandan told officials upon his return, the DC said he firstsmiled and remarked, “I am happy to be back to my country”.
Giving further details, the DC said, “The Pakistan authorities brought WingCommander Abhinandan to the Joint Check Post at Attari and he crossed overthe Zero Line at around 9:21 p.m(IST). After going through some formalitiesat the Wagah-Attari border, he was handed over to the BSF authorities.Later, the IAF authorities took him with them.” An official was seenputting his arms around the pilot while receiving him.
The Wing Commander was then driven away from the Attari border towardsAmritsar in an Air Force vehicle which was escorted by Punjab police.
The Deputy Commissioner said the officer’s parents were not present at thecheckpost.
Varthaman is being flown to Delhi and will undergo debriefing Saturdaywhich will include his physiological as well as a physical check-up in thepresence of officials from the military and Intelligence agencies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the return of Varthaman, saying thenation is proud of his exemplary courage.
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“Welcome Home Wing Commander Abhinandan! The nation is proud of yourexemplary courage. Our armed forces are an inspiration for 130 croreIndians,” tweeted Modi. Earlier, addressing a public rally in Tamil Nadu,Modi said, “every Indian is proud of brave pilot Abhinandan.” DefenceMinister Nirmala Sitharaman also came out with a “Jai Hind” tweet.
Several political leaders, including Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and WestBengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee also welcomed the IAF hero back home.
Vice Chief Marshal R G K Kapoor read out a brief statement before a largeposse of reporters in Attari, near Amritstar, on the other side of Wagah.
“Wing Commander Abhinandan has just been handed over to us. He will betaken now for a detailed medical checkup. This check up is mandatory as hehad to eject from an airplane which would have put his entire body understress,” said Kapoor, who did not take any questions.
The handing over of Varthaman to India at Wagah was delayed as he was askedto record a statement on camera by Pakistani authorities before he wasallowed to cross the border, according to sources in Pakistan.
At 8.30 pm (9 pm IST), the Pakistan government released the pilot’s videomessage to the local media in which he said as to how he was captured.
In the video message, Varthaman said he entered Pakistan’s space to “find atarget” but his aircraft was shot down.
