Indian Air Force wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman has reached Wagah border. He will be received by his parents and Indian Air Force officers at Attari-Wagah border.

Varthaman was accompanied by Indian Air Attaché Group Captain J.T. Krain, who had gone to Lahore with travel documents.

Varthaman was arrested by the Pakistan Air Force on Wednesday after his plane MiG 21 crashed across the Line of Control while retaliating to Pakistan jets violating Indian air space. Around 20 Paistan Air Force jets entered Indian air space near LoC and dropped bombs in the Indian territory in response to an Indian air strike on JeM terrorist camps in Balakot Pakistan on Tuesday.

Hours after Pakistan announced its decision to release Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, India conveyed to Islamabad that it wants him to be sent back via aerial route and not through the Wagah land border, however, the request was turned down by Pakistan saying that he will be returned only through the Attari-Wagah border.

On Thursday, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that Abhinandan will be released Friday as a “peace gesture”. The announcement, made during a joint session of Parliament in Pakistan, is being seen as first signs of de-escalation of tension between the two countries.

(This is a developing story. Please check back for further details)

First Published:Mar 1, 2019 4:30 PM IST