Abhinandan Varthaman has been handed over to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. Sources have informed that the Indian Air Force Wing Commander will cross Attari-Wagah joint check-post today, at around 3 pm. Two days after capturing the IAF pilot, Pakistan is releasing him as a “gesture of peace”.
Sources have informed that hundreds of people have reached the Attari border in Amritsar to receive Wing Commander Varthaman. Enthusiastic people carrying tricolour, garlands and posters and are eagerly waiting at the Attari-Wagah joint check post, where Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Abhinandan Varthaman will be released by Pakistani authorities.
People started arriving in Attari, around 30 km from Amritsar, since 6 a.m. The crowd thickened by 9 a.m. "We have come here to welcome our country's hero back home. We will give him a grand welcome. He showed a lot of bravery in the air combat and even after being captured by the Pakistanis", said Jitender who is a resident of Amritsar and had arrived in Attari with his friends. Wing Commander Abhinandan's parents, Air Marshal S. Varthaman (Retired) and mother Shobha Varthaman are expected to be in Attari to welcome their son back home.
"Many celebrities and other important people come to Attari border on different occasions. But today, a real hero is coming back. We will give him a a big and warm welcome with dhol and bhangra", said Manjit Singh, who was carrying a dhol with him.
On Wednesday, the 35-year-old Wing Commander was captured by Pakistan after his MiG-21 Bison fighter jet was hit by Pakistan Air Force jets near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.