IAF pilot Abhinandan faced mental harassment in Pakistan, says report

Nirmala Sitharaman met the pilot at the Army's Research and Referral hospital here where he is undergoing a series of medical tests as part of a 'cooling down' process

9:01 PM

Defence Minister meets Abhinandan, Sources say pilot subjected to mental harassment in Pak

Official sources said Varthaman briefly mentioned to Sitharaman about the mental trauma he was subjected to during his nearly 60-hour captivity in Pakistan after he was caught in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday.

 

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa and several top officials of the IAF also met Varthaman.

 

The sources said he told senior IAF brass that he was subjected to severe mental trauma though he was not tortured physically in captivity.

 

7:47 PM

Wing Commander Abhinandan informed he was subjected to a lot of mental harassment in Pak

6:57 PM

4:58 PM

Defence Minister Sitharaman meets Wing Commander Abhinandan in hospital

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Saturday met Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman and conveyed to him that the entire nation is proud of his courage and determination, officials said.

 

During the meeting at a medical facility of the Indian Air Force, Varthaman is understood to have explained to Sitharaman details about his nearly 60 hour stay in Pakistan.

 

Currently, he is undergoing medical tests at the Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), a compact and specialised medical evaluation centre for aircrew of all the three services.

4:31 PM

Resolution submitted in Pak parliament to endorse PM Imran Khan for Nobel Peace Prize

A resolution was submitted in Pakistan Parliament on Saturday to endorse Prime Minister Imran Khan for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize due to his efforts to de-escalate resent tension with India.

 

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry Saturday submitted the resolution in the secretariat of National Assembly, the lower house.

 

The resolution stated that Khan's decision of releasing Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan has de-escalated the hostility between Pakistan and India.

 

According to the resolution, Khan acted responsibly in the current tension and "deserves the Nobel Peace Prize".

 

The resolution is expected to be taken up on Monday when it is scheduled to convene its session.

 

It is also expected to be passed as the government has majority in the House but it will be interesting to see if main opposition parties support the move.

4:29 PM

Varthaman arrived in the national capital around 11:45 PM Friday and soon after he was taken to the Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), a compact and specialised medical evaluation centre for aircrew of all the three services.

4:28 PM

Early Saturday morning, Varthaman met his immediate family members as well as several top officials of the Indian Air Force.

4:28 PM

Wing Commander Abhinandan undergoes 'cooling down' process

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was brought to Delhi after Pakistan released him through the Attari-Wagah border late Friday night, underwent a series of medical tests as part of a "cooling down" process, officials said.

 

4:20 PM

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthman in a hospital today.

3:59 PM

Samjhauta Express services to resume from India from March 3.

3:17 PM

Wing Commander Abhinandan meets IAF chief, explains detention in Pakistan

According to IAF officials, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman (in file pic) met IAF Chief BS Dhanoa today morning and explained his detention in Pakistan. The Wing Commander will stay at Air Force Officer's Mess.

2:51 PM

Pakistan was not under "pressure" or "any compulsion" to release Abhinandan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi

Pakistan was not under "pressure" or "any compulsion" to release Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said today.

 

In an interview with BBC Urdu, Qureshi said: "We wanted to convey to them (India) that we do not want to increase your sorrow, we do not want your citizens to be miserable, we want peace".

 

Qureshi dismissed the notion that the captured IAF pilot was released owing to pressure or as a compulsion.

 

"Pakistan will not allow anti-state elements to risk the peace of the country or the region. We plan on taking action against extremist groups," Geo news quoted him as saying.

2:11 PM

Time for Pakistani leaders to stand up against terrorists: Tulsi Gabbard

It's time for Pakistan's leaders to stand up against extremists, Democratic presidential aspirant Tulsi Gabbard has said, as she slammed the country for providing terrorists with a safe haven which is causing tensions with India. "As long as Pakistan is providing terrorists with a safe haven, there will be heightened tensions between the two countries," Gabbard said. Read on...

1:39 PM

JeM chief Masood Azhar suspected to have renal failure

Massod Azhar, the founder of the dreaded terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), is suspected to be afflicted with renal failure and is under regular dialysis at an army hospital in Rawalpindi in Pakistan, officials said here Saturday.

 

This suggestion of security officials came after Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the JeM chief is "unwell".

 

"Recent reports indicate that Masood Azhar is now afflicted with renal failure and is under treatment and regular dialysis at the army hospital in Rawalpindi, the headquarters of the Pakistan Army," a senior security official said. Read on...

11:28 AM

After Centre ban, several properties linked to JeI leaders sealed in Kashmir

Authorities in Kashmir have sealed several properties belonging to Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), including residences of some of its activists, police said Saturday, days after the Centre banned the outfit on grounds that it was "in close touch" with militant groups and was likely to "escalate secessionist movement".

 

Several properties, including residential houses, belonging to various JeI leaders and activists were sealed in many areas of the city and elsewhere in the Valley Friday night, a police official said.

 

He said bank accounts of JeI leaders have also been freezed.

 

Various district magistrates have also sought list of moveable and immovable properties of the Jamaat leaders, he said.

9:39 AM

Chiefs of Air and Naval staffs to get Z-plus security

The chiefs of the Indian Air Force and Navy will get Z-plus security cover after a fresh assessment of their threat perception by the security agencies, officials said.

 

The decision was taken after a thorough review of the threat perception of IAF chief Air Marshal B S Dhanoa and chief of Naval staff Admiral Sunil Lanba in the wake of heightened tension with Pakistan.

 

The chiefs of Air Staff and Naval Staff will be given the Z-plus security, a government official said.

 

Army chief General Bipin Rawat has already been given the Z-plus security.

9:31 AM

Our hero is home, says Alia Bhatt

"Abhinandan is a true hero. The way he conducted himself in the face of adversity and the kind of dignity with which he carried himself, he is an inspiration for the whole nation," Ranveer said at a conclave in Delhi.

 

"What real heroes look like," Shahid Kapoor tweeted alongside a picture of Varthaman, while Alia Bhatt simply wrote, " Our hero is home." After a suspenseful wait lasting hours, Varthaman finally returned home on Friday night from his nearly three-day captivity in Pakistan, a major step towards defusing a near-war situation triggered by India's retaliation over Pakistan's continued support for terrorism.

9:30 AM

Bollywood celebs applaud Abhinandan's bravery, welcome his return

Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and a host of other Bollywood celebrities hailed "true hero" Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman's return to India.

 

Hailing his bravery, superstar Shah Rukh Khan tweeted, "There is no better feeling than coming back home, for home is the place of love, hope and dreams. Your bravery makes us stronger. Eternally grateful." Megastar Amitabh Bachchan tweeted, "Happy that Wing Co Abhinandan comes home." Director-producer Karan Johar tweeted, "We salute your bravery and valour....we applaud your strength in the face of adversity.... #WelcomeHomeAbhinandan." Actor Varun Dhawan wrote, "Welcome back home #WelcomeBackAbinandan a true hero. These humane actions give hope that all humanity is not lost. Bharat mata ki Jai." Ranveer Singh said Varthaman's bravery in the face of adversity was admirable and something that the country would never forget.

9:29 AM

Russia offered to mediate, provide venue to India, Pak to hold talks, says Islamabad

Russia on Friday offered to mediate and provide venue to Pakistan and India for the talks to resolve their current differences, Pakistan Foreign Office said.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov spoke to his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi over telephone and discussed the situation in the region following escalation of tensions between the two neighbours, it said.

 

"Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov reiterated his country's offer of mediation and provision of venue for the talks between India and Pakistan," the FO added.

9:27 AM

IAF pilot Abhinandan to undergo debriefing today

Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman will undergo debriefing Saturday which will include his physiological as well as a physical check-up in the presence of officials from the military and Intelligence agencies.

9:23 AM

Imran Khan was in Lahore to ensure 'smooth' handing over of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman: Sources to PTI

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was present in Lahore to oversee the 'smooth' handing over captured Indian Air Force pilot to India at the Wagah border on Friday, official sources said.

 

Khan arrived in Lahore on Friday afternoon, a couple of hours before IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was brought to the Wagah border from Islamabad, amid high security.

 

"PM Khan's main purpose of being in the town was to oversee the 'smooth' handing over of the captured Indian pilot to the Border Security Force," an official source told PTI.

8:50 AM

UN chief lauds Pak PM for freeing IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres lauded the decision of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to free Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, a move easing the escalating tension between India and Pakistan, on Friday.

 

"The report of the release of the Indian pilot by the Pakistani authorities would be very much a welcome step," the spokesperson of UN Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric was quoted as saying by Geo News.

 

"We would encourage both parties to do whatever they can to deescalate the situation and this is the message that has been passed on by the United Nations and, I think, by the international community as a whole," the spokesperson added.

 

Dujarric further stated that Guterres was in touch with both India and Pakistan at various levels.

8:45 AM

BCCI and sports fraternity took to Twitter to welcome Wing Commander Abhinandan

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and sports fraternity took to Twitter to welcome Wing Commander Abhinandan, who stepped on the India soil from Attari-Wagah border in Amritsar, Punjab, where thousands had been waiting for hours to have a glimpse of the brave IAF officer.

8:44 AM

#WelcomeHomeAbhinandan You rule the skies and you rule our hearts. Your courage and dignity will inspire generations to come

11:16 PM

Good to be back in my country, says IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman

"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 by Pakistan. Read here

10:09 PM

PM Modi welcomes Wing Commander Abhinandan

9:34 PM

IAF is happy to have Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman back

IAF is happy to have him (Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman) back: Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor

9:32 PM

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman will be taken for medical check-up as per procedure

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman will be taken for medical check-up as per procedure, says Indian Air Force after pilot’s return from Pakistan

9:24 PM

IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman enters India

IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman crosses border to enter India Read here

9:19 PM