Feels good to be back in my country, says IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman after release

New Delhi: “It is good to be back in my country,” was the first reaction of IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman as he set his foot back on Indian soil. This was stated by an official quoting Varthaman after he received the pilot at the Attari-Wagah border soon after his release from Pakistan. [caption id=“attachment_6180961” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was released by Pakistan authorities at Wagah border. PTI[/caption] In its reaction, the Indian Air Force (IAF) said on Twitter, “We have Wing Commander Abhinandan back with us. Indian Air Force is proud of our Airwarrior #Abhinandan.” Varthaman was captured by Pakistani authorities on 27 February after an air combat between the air forces of the two countries, a day after New Delhi had conducted counter-terror operations in Pakistan’s Balakot. “We are happy to have him back,” said a top IAF officer shortly after Varthaman was handed over to Indian authorities. Reading out a brief statement, Air Vice Marshal RGK 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. “He will be taken for a detailed medical checkup. The officer has had to eject from a plane which would have put his body under immense strain,” said Kapoor. The air vice marshal did not take any question from the media.