Welcome Home! IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Released Via Attari-Wagah Border

On February 26, the IAF conducted pre-emptive non-military surgical strikes on JeM terror camps in Balakot. Following which, there was retaliation by Pakistan who violated Indian air space with F-16 fighter jets. According to Air Vice-Marshall R.G.K. Kapoor, one enemy jet was shot down but we also lost one of our own MiG 21 Bison. More concerning though was the capture of an IAF pilot in the aerial combat.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan announced yesterday that the pilot in their custody, Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, would be released today.

The entire nation has been awaiting his impending release since morning. All over the country, there have been gatherings calling for his safe return.

Tamil Nadu: A special thanks giving prayer was organised today by state Home Guards at Kalikambal Temple in Chennai ahead of Wing Commander #AbhinandanVarthaman's release by Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/Dz3F24vaxn

— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2019

According to the Times of India, the braveheart is reported to have swallowed some confidential documents while dumping the rest in a pond before his capture so that they don’t get into the wrong hands. Even after his capture, he did not give in to the demands of providing information and was composed throughout the interrogation.

Here are the first pics:

IAF Wing Commander #AbhinandanVarthaman at Wagah-Attari border pic.twitter.com/WGz0LaNvX3

— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2019

IAF Wing Commander #AbhinandanVarthaman at Wagah-Attari border, to cross border soon to enter India. pic.twitter.com/a1hVjwroVw

— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2019

And here’s the moment he walks into India’s soil

#BREAKING on #AbhinandanReturns | IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan crosses the border to enter India, tune in to watch LIVE visuals here-https://t.co/LGCyJUWcLF pic.twitter.com/5s8lDWqHO1

— Republic (@republic) March 1, 2019

Welcome home, hero! Welcome home, Abhinandan!