India salutes Abhinandan Varthaman

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman returned home to a hero's welcome on Friday night (March 1).

Abhinandan had been in Pakistani captivity for two days. He had engaged and shot down a Pakistan Air Force F16 jet on Wednesday before his own MiG-21 Bison jet crashed. Although Abhinandan managed to eject, he landed in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.

Scenes at the Attari-Wagah border were both emotional as well as joyous.

Pakistan, true to its character, played the delay tactics by pushing back Abhinandan's release through the day.

Abhinandan's return, however, has brought together India in saluting Indian armed forces' personnel for their valour and their sacrifices.