Prayers, wishes and emotions: Country awaits the return of hero Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman

Timesnow news, 1 March 2019, New Delhi: Commissioned into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2004, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman is by now, a national hero. The brave pilot, whose release from Pakistan's captivity, is being eagerly awaited by the country, will be returned to India on Friday. While the exact details about his release, such as the location and timing have yet not been disclosed, Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh, in a tweet, dropped a hint that the handover could take place at the Wagah border.

Citing official sources, news agency IANS reported that the Border Security Force (BSF) has not been told 'the exact time and sequence regarding the release of the captured IAF pilot'. "The pilot is likely to be brought by Pakistani authorities from Rawalpindi to Lahore and handed over first to the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) under rules of the Geneva Convention before being brought to the JCP between 12 noon and 2 p.m. to return home. He will be debriefed by defence and security officials after his return," IANS reported citing sources. 

The announcement of his release is being viewed as a diplomatic win for India. Abhinandan, 35 was captured by Pakistan when the Mig-21 Bison he was flying crashed across the LoC on February 27. "We are happy that our pilot who had fallen across the Line of Control and was in custody of Pakistan is being released, we're extremely happy to have him back. We only see it as a gesture which is in consonance with all Geneva conventions," Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor said during a joint press conference on Thursday evening. 

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not make any direct reference to Abhinandan's release, addressing a gathering at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, PM Narendra Modi said that a 'pilot project has been completed'. His remarks were received with thunderous applause from the audience. Abhinandan's father S Varthaman, who was an Air Marshal, referred to the purported videos of his son and said that he spoke like a "true soldier". "Thank you, my friends, for your concern and wishes. I thank God for his blessings, Abhi is alive, not injured, sound in mind, just look at the way he talked so bravely...a true soldier...we are so proud of him," his father said in a statement.

While Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman did not directly comment on the matter, she retweeted an IAF statement saying "Indian Air Force @IAF_MCC has recently learnt that Pakistan has announced that Wg Cdr Abhinandan will be returned to India tomorrow.#IAF looks forward to the return of Wg Cdr Abhinandan."

Earlier, wishes kept pouring in from throughout the country, including from political leaders. "Dear @narendramodi ji, I’m touring the border areas of Punjab & I’m presently in Amritsar. Came to know that @pid_gov has decided to release #AbhinandanVartaman from Wagha. It will be an honour for me to go and receive him, as he and his father are alumni of the NDA as I am," said Singh.

"Along with his family members and all our countrymen, we are anxiously waiting for the safe return of our pilot," said West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. Addressing a joint session of Pakistan parliament on Thursday, Pakistan PM Imran Khan said that the IAF pilot was being released as a 'peace gesture'.