Celebrations begin at Wagah Border ahead of IAF hero Abhinandan’s release

Guwahati, March 1, 2019:

The nation waits with anticipation for the release of captured IAF Wing Commander at the Wagah Border. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had said that Abhinandan would be released at the Attari border at approximately 4 pm on Friday, but as per reports, he will be released at 4:46 pm. “The Indian Pilot (Abhinandan) will be released this afternoon via Wagah”, Qureshi has been quoted as saying. It was earlier being reported that Abhinandan would be released between 12-2 pm.

Hundreds upon hundreds of people have gathered at the border and are waving the tricolor flag and singing patriotic songs and beating drums to welcome back the hero who risked his life for the country. Cries of ‘Bharat Maata ki jai’ continue to ring out as people wait to catch a glimpse of the returned pilot. Abhinandan's parents are among the people who have reached the border in order to welcome Abhinandan back into the country.

Amid tightened security, a team of the Indian Air Force has also reached the Wagah border to receive the Commander.

Meanwhile, a Pakistani citizen has filed a petition in an Islamabad Court to stop Abhinandan’s release claiming he committed “crimes against the country”.