IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan returns home from Pakistan

Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman returned home from Pakistan on Friday to a hero’s welcome, two days after he was captured following a dogfight when his MiG 21 was shot down.

Pakistani officials handed over Varthaman to Indian officials, including from the IAF, at the Attari-Wagah Border.

Shortly after Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was handed over to Indian authorities by Pakistan at the border point in Wagah, Assistant Chief of Air Staff”Air Vice Marshal R G K Kapoor said we are happy to have Abhinandan Varthaman back.

Varthaman was captured by Pakistani authorities on February 27 after an air combat between the air forces of the two countries, a day after New Delhi had conducted counter-terror operations in Pakistan’s Balakot.

The Indian Air Force on Thursday said it is very happy that captured pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman is returning home but dismissed suggestions it was a goodwill gesture, insisting it was in line with the Geneva Conventions.