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Pakistan brings captured Indian pilot to border
Islamabad has said the handover is a gesture of peace that could defuse tensions and avoid another war between India and Pakistan.
An Indian waves national flag while they wait to welcome an Indian pilot at the border at Wagah (Prabhjot Gill/AP)
Officials from Pakistan have brought the Indian pilot captured from a downed plane to a border crossing with India for a handover.
The pilot, identified as Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, was taken in a convoy that set out from the eastern city of Lahore to the border crossing at Wagah, escorted by military vehicles.
Pakistan will release Indian Pilot Abhinandan tomorrow as a gesture of peace: Prime Minister Imran Khan pic.twitter.com/6aUN4S9JVb
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) February 28, 2019
On the Indian side of the border, policemen lined the road as a group of cheering Indian residents from the area waved the national flag and held up a huge garland of flowers to welcome him back.
Islamabad has said the handover is a gesture of peace that could defuse tensions and avoid another war between India and Pakistan.
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