Happy to have Abhinandan Varthaman back, says IAF minutes after Pakistan releases him
Defence

Happy to have Abhinandan Varthaman back, says IAF minutes after Pakistan releases him

Assistant chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal R.G.K. Kapoor had read out a brief statement to reporters waiting for wing commander Varthaman's release at Wagah border.

   

Ahmedabad: School students gather for the safe return of Air Force Pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, who was captured by Pakistan yesterday, in Ahmedabad, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. (PTI Photo/Santosh Hirlekar)(PTI2_28_2019_000086B)

Wagah: “We are happy to have him back,” said a top IAF officer Friday night shortly after the captured Indian pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was handed over to Indian authorities by Pakistan at the border point here.

Reading out a brief statement, Air Vice Marshal R G K Kapoor, assistant chief of Air Staff, told a posse of reporters that the pilot will be taken for a detailed medical examination as he was subjected to lot of stress during his nearly three-day captivity.

The Air Vice Marshal did not take any questions from the media.


Also read: Pakistan delayed IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman’s return with recording of video statement