The 35-year-old Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthamanwas shot down while flying a MiG-21 fighter in a dogfight with Pakistani aircraft and captured. As soon as he stepped in his motherland through the Attari-Wagah border he said, “It is good to be back in my country”.
Abhinandan arrives to hero’s Welcome
— Sitaram Mukherjee (@SitaramMukherj4) March 2, 2019
Crowds throng Wagah border post; pilot whisked away by IAF authorities after Pak. hands him over
Indian Air Force fighter pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthamanwas freed by Pakistan on Friday, two days after his MiG-21 fighter jet . pic.twitter.com/7T3CPwgZiz
Welcome home Wing Commander Abhinandan.. have a restful sleep.. hope this pic reminds us that our forces are our heroes above all politics! Gnight, shubhratri.. pic.twitter.com/zS3WqkHSBg
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) March 1, 2019
Pressure from all over the world made Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan declared that they will be releasing the captured Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthamanwas on March 1.
Pakistanis protested today outside the Lahore Press Club for the safe release of #AbhinandanVartaman. #Peace #SayNoToWar https://t.co/1EQLawammF pic.twitter.com/DstBd4w0Tw
— Rituparna Chatterjee (@MasalaBai) February 28, 2019
Breaking @ImranKhanPTI just announces IN Pakistan parliament that #WingCommandarAbhinandan will be released tomorrow. Big big news
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) February 28, 2019
Soon after the news broke, Twitter users Welcome Back Abhinandan. There was a big smile and relief on the faces of people of India. Prime Minister Modi said the meaning of Abhinandan will change from now.
Welcome Home Wing Commander Abhinandan!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 1, 2019
The nation is proud of your exemplary courage.
Our armed forces are an inspiration for 130 crore Indians.
Vande Mataram!
Braveheart wing commander Abhinandan sir is a true fighter of our Nation. Welcome home Abhinandan sir and thank you Modi sir🙏 pic.twitter.com/vNw2WUp1pF
— madhu sahu (@madhusa48828586) March 2, 2019