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Finally, IAF pilot reaches home

Finally, IAF pilot reaches home
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New Delhi: Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was released by Pakistan on Friday even though the paperwork involved led to a lot of delay over his release.
After Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the release of the IAF pilot, the situation that both the countries had come to eased as the war euphoria and the escalation came to a halt.
Notably, security at the border was extremely tight as the Abhinandan was received on the Indian side by top Indian Air Force officials. Among the many who had gathered to welcome were his parents.
Wing Commander Abhinandan — who was captured by Pakistan after his MiG 21 Bison aircraft was shot down by a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jet walked over to this side at the Wagah border late Friday.
His return was delayed due to some procedural issues.
He was filmed walking across the Wagah pavilion in civilian clothes.
The pilot had been arrested on Feb 27 after his aircraft was shot down by the PAF upon violating Pakistani airspace.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had on Thursday announced that the captive pilot will be released as a gesture of peace.

People gather at Attari
Hundreds of people flocked the Attari border Friday to catch a glimpse of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who reached home after his release from Pakistan.
Wing Commander Varthaman, son of a decorated IAF veteran, was captured by Pakistan after his jet went down following a strike by an enemy missile.
Varthaman’s MiG 21 was shot and he bailed out after bringing down one Pakistani F-16 fighter during a dogfight to repel a Pakistani attack on Wednesday morning. He has been in Pakistan since then.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced in Parliament on Thursday that Varthaman would be released on Friday as a “peace gesture”.
Patriotic fervour prevailed at the border with border residents singing songs, beating drums and carrying the tricolour in their hands.
Barely one-km away from the Indo-Pak border, people sang patriotic songs and raised slogans like “Bharat Mata ki Jai”.
A Sikh youth from a nearby area was seen carrying a huge garland, while an elderly man was seen beating a ‘dhol’.
“If permitted, I want to welcome the Wing Commander with this garland,” said the youth carrying garland.
Security arrangements have been further strengthened here, with Punjab Police personnel also deployed in numbers.
Amritsar’s Senior Deputy Mayor Raman Bakshi, who was also present here, could not stop himself from singing patriotic songs.
Raising pro-India slogans, a group of youths sang the popular patriotic song, “Is desh ke yaaron kya kehna, yeah desh hai veer jawanoon ka”.
Many youth among the crowd said Pakistan should stop aiding and abetting terror or else be prepared to face consequences.

No air travel for IAF pilot, says Pak
Hours after Pakistan announced its decision to release Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, India conveyed to Islamabad that it wants him to be sent back via aerial route and not through the Wagah land border, official sources said.
However, late in the night, Pakistan communicated to India that he will be returned through the Attari-Wagah border.
The Indian defence establishment was also mulling over sending a special aircraft to Pakistan to bring back Wing Commander Varthaman who was captured by Pakistan during an aerial combat on Wednesday.
Varthaman will now return home through the Wagah border which is around 25 km from Lahore in Pakistan.
The IAF pilot’s MiG 21 was shot and he bailed out after bringing down one Pakistani F-16 fighter during a dogfight to repel a Pakistani attack on Wednesday morning.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday announced that Varthaman will be released on Friday as “peace gesture”.

Petition to stop pilots transfer rejected by Pak court
A Pakistani citizen on Friday filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court to stop the imminent release of the captured Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinanadan Varthaman, saying he committed crime against the country and should be put on trial here.
Pakistan detained the Indian Air Force pilot on Wednesday following a fierce engagement between air forces of the two sides along the Line of Control when his MiG 21 fighter jet was downed.
The Pakistan government on Thursday decided to release him as “a first step” to open negotiations with India to de-escalate tension after a terror attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed left 40 CRPF personnel dead.
The petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) sought the court’s order to stop Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government from handing over the Indian Air Force pilot.
The petitioner said the Indian pilot had violated the airspace of Pakistan to bomb the country and therefore he committed crime against Pakistan and should face trial here.
The court has admitted the petition for hearing. IHC chief justice Athar Minhallah will hear the petition ahead of the Indian pilot’s handing over to India.


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