Wing Commander Abhinandan returns India through Wagah border amid hero's welcome

Abhinandan arrived to a hero's welcome to India with a huge crowd gathered at the Wagah Border,  which lies on the historic Grand Trunk Road between Lahore and Amritsar in India, cheering his return.

The handing over of the IAF pilot to India by Pakistan was delayed by several hours due to "procedural delays". It finally happened well after 9pm.

"He has been handed over to us.....as per standard operating procedure of the Air Force he will now be taken for a detailed medical check up. This check up is mandated particularly because the officer had had to eject from an aeroplane which would put his body under great stress," Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor told media persons immediately after he crossed over to India after completing the long and tedious formalities.

TV grabs of the moment of IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman entering India from Pakistan

The Indian Air Force (IAF) tweeted they are proud of their air warrior. 

The daily beating the retreat and band ceremony at the Wagah border was cancelled on Friday with  Abhinandan Varthaman's scheduled handover. Official formalities, however, delayed the Wing Commander's return.

Two days, ago the IAF Wing Commander was captured by the Pakistan Army after his aircraft crashed across the Line of Control.

Media reports said Pakistan has rejected India's request to send him back in an IAF (Indian Air Force) plane and instead decided to send him through the border.

Indian authorities have been formally informed of Pakistan's decision to release captured Indian Air Force officer, Wing Commander, sources within the Foreign Office  told DawnNewsTV.

Acting Indian High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia on Friday visited the Pakistan foreign office to fulfil formalities ahead of the Indian pilot's release, it said.

The Indian government on Tuesday last said the Indian Air Force (IAF) had carried out a "non-military pre-emptive" surgical strike across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), a step which seemed to be a fitting reply to the recent Pulwama attack in Kashmir by Pakistan-backed terrorists, killing 40 Indian paramilitary personnel.

India swore revenge and launched surgical strike to destroy a Jaish-e-Mohammad terror camp in POK. 

In retaliatory strike by Pakistan, the jet of Abhinandan was shot down though he parachuted down in Pakistan occupied territory. 

Modi welcomes Abhinandan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman home after he entered the country through Wagah border late on Friday night.

Modi tweeted: "Welcome Home Wing Commander Abhinandan! The nation is proud of your exemplary courage. Our armed forces are an inspiration for 130 crore Indians. Vande Mataram!" 

Welcome Home Wing Commander Abhinandan!

The nation is proud of your exemplary courage.

Our armed forces are an inspiration for 130 crore Indians.

Vande Mataram!

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 1, 2019