IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman is being released to his home country today, and a massive crowd has gathered at the Attari Joint Check Post (AJCP), awaiting the brave Wing Commander’s return.

“We have come here to welcome our country's hero back home. We will give him a grand welcome. He showed a lot of bravery in the air combat and even after being captured by the Pakistanis,” an Amritsar resident who was part of the group said. Earlier today, Abhinandan’s parents, who had flown down to Delhi from Chennai received a standing ovation from the passengers and the airline staff. They are expected to be present at the Attari-Wagah border around the time of their son’s release.

Wing Commander Abhinandan was captured by the Pakistani Army on Wednesday after his MiG-21 Bison fighter jet was hit by Pakistan Air Force jets near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.