Live Updates
9:30 PM | IAF pilot Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman enters India
05:05 PM | IAF pilot Abhinandan undergoes medical checkup at Wagah
IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan is undergoing a medical checkup at Wagah, where he is set to be handed over to Indian authorities shortly.
05:00 PM | Indian High Commission delegation reaches Wagah
04:55 PM | West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee welcomes Abhinandan home
West Bengal chief minister has tweeted “Welcome home #AbhinandanVarthaman Welcome home sweet home”
Welcome home #AbhinandanVarthaman Welcome home sweet home
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 1, 2019
04:41 PM | Amid Abhinandan’s home return, Pakistan violates ceasefire at J&K’s Nowshera
04:35 PM | Wing Commander on his way to Wagah
04:30 PM | Shah Rukh Khan welcomes Wing Commander Abhinandan
There is no better feeling than Coming back Home, for home is the place of love, hope & dreams. Ur bravery makes us stronger. Eternally grateful. #WelcomeBackAbhinandan pic.twitter.com/NFTRINu6Mw
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) March 1, 2019
03:20 PM | Abhinandan to be taken to Amritsar and then Delhi
Abhinandan to be taken to Amritsar. From there he will be flown to Delhi.
03:40 PM | Senior IAF officials at Attari border to receive Abhinandan
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman is now reaching the Wagah border. Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor will receive the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot.
03:25 PM | Pakistan allows people to be present at the retreat parade
Pakistan has allowed people to be present at the retreat parade. People have started to go towards the Wagah gate. India, on the other hand, cancelled the beating the retreat ceremony in wake of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s release.
03:20 PM | Indians proud that Wing Commander Abhinanadan is from Tamil Nadu: PM Modi
While addressing a gathering in Tamil Nadu’s in Kanyakumari, Prime MInister Narendra Modi said that today, every Indian is proud that Wing Commander Abhinandan is from Tamil Nadu
02:30 PM | No Beating Retreat ceremony at Attari-Wagah border says Punjab official head ahead of pilot’ return: news agency
01:45 PM | Students skip school, arrive Wagah to welcome Abhinandan
01:30 PM | IAF Pilot Abhinandan arrives at Lahore from Islamabad
12:40 PM | Abhinandan Varthaman handed over to Indian High Commission
IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman has been handed over to Indian High Commission in Pakistan. He is expected to cross between 3-4 pm.
12:10 PM | Chennai temple organises special prayer ahead of Abhinandan’s release
A special thanks giving prayer was organised today by state Home Guards at Kalikambal Temple in Chennai ahead of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s release by Pakistan.
11:45 AM | Indian HC completes processing necessary documents for Abhinandan’s release
Indian High Commission in Pakistan has completed processing the necessary documents for Abhinandan Varthaman’s release and has handed them to Pakistan.
11:20 AM | Chang in timings; IAF pilot Abhinandan to be brought to Wagah between 3 to 4 pm
The time for Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s arrival at Wagah-Attari border in Punjab’s Amritsar has changed from 2 pm to between 3 to 4 pm Pakistan time.
11:05 AM | Pakistan activist files plea against release of IAF Pilot Abhinandan Varthaman: Report
Amit Shah while speaking at the India Today Conclave, said that Yeddyurappa should not have politicised the Indian airstrikes on terror camps in Pakistan.
BSY had earlier said that India’s pre-emptive strikes on terror camps in Pakistan has created a wave in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will help the party win over 22 of 28 seats in the state in the coming Lok Sabha polls.
10:40 AM | High security deployed at Wagah Border ahead of Abhinandan’s return
Punjab Police personnel has been deployed outside Integrated Check Post (ICP) Attari in a huge number.
10:30 AM | Indians gather at Wagah Border to welcome IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman
Several people have arrived at Wagah border to welcome Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman who will be released by Pakistan today. People reached with drums, garlands and flags.
10:00 AM | Pilot to arrive Wagah Border at 2 PM
Retd Air Marshal S Varthaman is a highly-decorated officer and Shobha Varthaman is a doctor. They left for Amritsar soon after landing in Delhi. They are all set to receive their son, who is expected to be handed over by Pakistan to India at about 2 pm, at the Wagah border.
09:40 AM | IAF Pilot Abhinandan’s parents cheered on board flight to Delhi as they wait for son’s return
Varthaman’s parents took a late flight from Chennai to Delhi and received a standing ovation from co-passengers. Air Marshal S Varthaman and Shobha Varthaman made their way through the plane to their seats when the passengers stood up with high respect, cheered, clapped and took photos with the Varthaman family.
Wing Commander #AbhinandanVartaman ‘s parents reached Delhi last night from Chennai. This was the scene inside the flight when the passengers realized his parents were onboard. They clapped for them, thanked them & made way for them to disembark first. #Respect #AbhinandanMyHero pic.twitter.com/P8USGzbgcp
— Paul Oommen (@Paul_Oommen) March 1, 2019
Varthaman family heads to Delhi to receive their son Abhinandan Varthaman
While the entire nation awaits for sooner and safe return of Indian Air Force Pilot Abhinandan Varthaman today, his parents are still keeping their emotions together and eyes wide stuck to see their soon arriving. For the same, Varthaman’s parents took a late flight from Chennai to Delhi and received a standing ovation from co-passengers.
The Indian Air Force (IAF), in a joint briefing with the Indian Army and the Navy on Thursday, 28 February said that it was happy about Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s return from Pakistan.
Asked if the IAF sees the release of Varthaman as a goodwill gesture by Pakistan, Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor said, “We see this as a gesture in consonance with Geneva conventions.”
Kapoor addressed the media with Maj General Surendra Mahal and Rear Admiral Dalbir Singh Gujral.
Earlier on Thursday, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that Pakistan will release captured pilot Varthaman on Friday as a peace gesture.
IAF Pilot Abhinandan Varthaman to return tomorrow: Here’s how netizens reacted to the good news
In joint parliament session, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday announced to release Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman tomorrow.”
“In our desire of peace, I announce that tomorrow, and as a first step to open negotiations, Pakistan will be releasing the Indian Air Force officer in our custody,” said Pakistan PM Imran Khan.
This came after Pakistan on Wednesday claimed it shot down two Indian fighter jets over Pakistani air space and arrested an Indian Air Force pilot.
The tensions between the two nations escalated on Tuessday when Indian Air Force carried out airstrike across LoC, bombing several terror camps in wake of Pulwama attack in Jammu Kashir on February 14.
In retaliation, Pakistan Air Force on Wednesday February 27, violated Indian airspace in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch and Nowshera sectors. While Indian officials said that a Pakistani Air Force F-16 fighter jet was shot down in Jammu, Pakistan claimed to have shot down two IAF aircraft.
