IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman back home after 58 hrs

Mumbai: Two days after his capture, Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has been handed over to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, will cross Attari-Wagah joint check-post at around 6 pm today.

The IAF pilot has been released by Pakistan as a “gesture of peace”, two days after he was captured across the Line of Control after shooting down a Pakistan Air Force F-16 jet.

However, there was tremendous international pressure on pakistan to the release Indian pilot.

On Thursday, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that Abhinandan would be freed on Friday after New Delhi sought his unconditional, immediate and unharmed release signalling de-escalation of tension with India.

Khan’s announcement came amid pressure from India and other countries to act against terror emanating from his country.

The 35-year-old Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was flying the MiG-21 Bison that shot down the PAF F-16 in the aerial engagement with Pakistan on Wednesday morning.

Abhinandan will be brought by Pakistani authorities from Rawalpindi to Lahore and handed over first to the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) under rules of Geneva Convention before being brought to the check post to return home.